Former McAlester coach charged with embezzlement

A former McAlester football coach is in trouble again, this time, charged with embezzling from the district’s football program. Investigators say Forrest Mazey used the school’s account to order around $4,700 in clothing and football gear after he left the district.

What the affidavit says

The district attorney says Forrest Mazey bought 90 items over a period of months and had them all shipped to his home. Mazey stopped working for McAlester Public Schools on December 16th, 2024, but investigators say the very next day, he started using the football program’s account to buy men’s and women’s clothing.

The DA says the purchases continued through May.

“From there till May of 2025, he's alleged to have made several purchases on the school's account,” said Pittsburg County District Attorney Chuck Sullivan.

The affidavit says the items included men’s clothes in the colors of the school where Mazey now works and football cleats in the colors of where his son is playing.

Using school funds

The DA says his office takes allegations involving school money very seriously.

“Think about how those dollars—how the schools get their dollars—those tax dollars, those dollars that are allocated, as you mentioned, for the kids,” said Sullivan.

Previous misdemeanor

Mazey pleaded no contest in December to misdemeanors of pointing a gun at an assistant coach during a retreat last summer. He was given a 90-day deferred sentence and is asking the judge to expunge that from his record. The assistant coach in that case is now suing Mazey.

Mazey told me he plans to fight these new charges and says, “Everything is not as it seems.”

The embezzlement allegations took place while Mazey was on probation in the previous case.