A youth sports organisation in Texas is facing backlash after parents discovered that a former coach linked to the programme is a registered s3x offender.
A youth sports organisation in Texas is facing criticism after parents learned that a former coach connected to the programme is listed on the state’s sex offender registry.
The organisation, the Texas Home Educators Sports Association (THESA), offers athletic opportunities for homeschooled students in the Fort Worth area. It has come under renewed scrutiny following disclosures involving Thomas “Tommy” Whiteman, a former baseball player who previously served as head coach of the THESA Riders.
Whiteman, 46, remains listed on Texas’ sex offender registry until 2030. Public registry records state that the case stemmed from a 2010 offence involving the online solicitation of a minor. The registry indicates the matter involved explicit communication with an individual believed to be a 14-year-old girl.
The controversy intensified after reports that some parents were given a waiver during programme registration which referred to the coach’s past personal struggles but did not directly state that he was a registered sex offender.
According to accounts from parents, the document reportedly presented his background through the lens of rehabilitation and religious change, while omitting specific details of his criminal status.
The issue was first brought wider attention by a watchdog group, with at least one parent saying the waiver acknowledged past misconduct in broad terms but failed to clearly disclose the nature of the offence or the registry listing.
Questions have since been raised about transparency, safeguarding procedures and whether families were given enough information to make informed decisions about participation in the programme.
Whiteman is no longer listed as a coach on THESA’s website. He has also reportedly been linked to a private sports training facility in the area, where references to his past conduct and personal testimony were said to have appeared.
Separately, Carroll Independent School District said it is reviewing concerns after Whiteman had previously been listed as an approved off-campus activity provider.
The district stated that, based on available records, only one student used the provider during the 2022–23 school year, and that arrangement was made at the request of a parent.
At the time of reporting, THESA had not issued a public response to the controversy or addressed questions surrounding disclosure practices and child safety safeguards.
The case has prompted broader discussion among parents and community members about vetting standards, transparency requirements and how youth organisations communicate sensitive background information involving adults working with children.
