School board moves to fire Carterville coach charged with criminal sexual abuse

The Carterville School Board in Illinois voted Tuesday night to begin the process of firing John 'Jake' Wakey, the Carterville High School assistant football coach and teacher, who faces nine Class 2 felony charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against students. The abuse allegedly occurred between 2013 and 2015, involving victims aged 13-17, including members of the football team. Wakey was arrested May 7 near Pontiac, Illinois, and released May 12 on pretrial conditions, including GPS monitoring and residency at his parents’ home in Herscher, Illinois. The board cited 'unprofessional, unacceptable, and immoral conduct,' noting a 'consistent pattern' of inappropriate communication with students, including text messages from 2022 and 2025. Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich previously stated that four former students had provided statements to investigators, with evidence pointing to nine potential victims. Wakey had been on paid administrative leave since February, receiving roughly $3,300 biweekly. Wakey has 17 days to request a formal dismissal hearing; if he does not, the termination becomes automatic. The board’s decision follows a special meeting held five days after his arrest. Williamson County Judge Michelle Schafer denied a request to keep Wakey in custody, citing his lack of criminal history and stable community ties since the alleged abuse occurred over a decade ago. Investigators had initially struggled with limited victim statements but later secured multiple accounts, leading to Wakey’s arrest. The case highlights systemic failures in oversight, as prior disciplinary actions against Wakey were reportedly ignored. The school board’s move reflects a broader effort to address institutional accountability in response to the allegations.