Criminal charge against former Ringling football coach and principal dismissed, cannot be refiled

The criminal case against the former head football coach and principal at Ringling High School was dismissed on Friday, Jefferson County court documents reveal.

Phillip Koons was originally charged with Outraging Public Decency in October of 2023, following allegations of physical and verbal abuse toward his student-athletes.

District Attorney Jason Hicks wrote, in the motion to dismiss the case, that he was dismissing it "in the furtherance of justice after review of civil depositions."

He dismissed it with prejudice, meaning the charge cannot be refiled in the future.

News 9 contacted Hicks' office for a comment, and reached his secretary, but did not receive a response explaining in detail what about the civil depositions led to his decision.

In January of 2024, a group of current and former male students who played for Koons on his team filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Koons, the district, its superintendent, and two of Koons' sons, who also worked as assistant coaches on the team.

That lawsuit is still pending.

An attorney for Koons declined to immediately comment on Friday's decision and instead said Koons and his legal team would be preparing to comment publicly next week.

News 9 contacted Tod Mercer, the lead attorney for the students, but has not yet received a response.