Parents React To Coach Dorsey Admitting to Whipping Accusations

A Murrah High School basketball coach speaks publicly about accusations that he whipped his players with a weightlifting belt in practice. He spoke openly today during church services at New Jerusalem located on Old Canton Road.

This afternoon Marlon Dorsey's pastor released a statement on Dorsey's behalf. It states:

“Following the recent developments pertaining to allegations, I paddled my students; I want to publicly apologize to the Murrah High School Parents, Jackson Public School District, Murrah High School and the City of Jackson.”

“Today, some of students have lost pride in their school and in their selves. Students are disrespecting teachers, administrators and other students by stealing cell phones, leaving off campus without permission, disrupting classroom teaching time, late for class and not following dress codes by wearing the pants on their butts and house shoes to school and on-court behavior.”

“I took it upon myself to save these young men from the destruction of self and what society has accepted and become silent to the issues our students are facing on a daily basis. My actions were to prevent the tragedy that happened to three of our basketball players three years ago at Murrah High School.”

“I am deeply remorseful of my actions to help our students. Coach Marlon Dorsey wanted to point out that we must stand up and take our schools back!”

One parent, who claims he saw the coach hit his son, reported the abuse to school administrators last week.

"Every time I went to practice I saw it," recalls Jason Hubbard.

Hubbard says he was shocked when he saw Coach Dorsey whip his varsity basketball players with a weight-lifting belt.

"I saw where the boys would run a play and make an error doing it and he would pull them to the side and give them three licks for their mistakes," explains Hubbard.

Another parent says his son also received a whipping.

"Coach Dorsey had wanted him to bend down and touch his toes and he said he wouldn't do that and he ended up hitting him anyway," remembers Michael Francis.

According to the Jackson public schools website, corporal punishment has been banned in the district since 1991.

"I told the boys one night after practice those whippings should have never happened. I think whipping a child has gone beyond the limit of what you can do with a child," comments Hubbard.

And, they had hoped Coach Dorsey would have addressed the parents and students at Murrah high school before the congregation at his church.

"He scarred the kids for the rest of their life and they'll never forget that," adds Francis.

The parents say they hope the players can move past this situation and have a great basketball season. Their season starts on Saturday.

Right now, JPS is investigating the claims against Coach Dorsey. Parents tell us the school sent home a letter with students about the claims last week.

Hubbard reported the incident to the school Monday triggering the investigation. But, one source close to the situation tells us, the whipping has been going on for some time. So far, no criminal charges have been filed against Dorsey.

The school district is not saying much right now but did release a written statement. It reads:

"Jackson Public School is conducting a thorough investigation of allegations involving an employee at Murrah High School. We cannot discuss specifics of the investigation or personnel matters because of employee and student confidentiality rights."

We did contact Coach Dorsey, as his reverend suggested, but he did not answer our call.