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

The Carterville School Board voted on Tuesday to begin the process of firing John 'Jake' Wakey, the Carterville High School assistant football coach and teacher, following his arrest on nine counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The charges stem from alleged abuse of students, including football team members, during the 2013-2015 school years, with victims ranging from ages 13 to 17. Wakey was placed on paid administrative leave for nearly three months before his arrest on May 7 near Pontiac, Illinois, and was released on May 12 under pretrial conditions including GPS monitoring and confinement to his parents' home in Herscher, Illinois. The board cited Wakey’s 'unprofessional, unacceptable, and immoral conduct,' noting a 'consistent pattern' of inappropriate communication with students, including texts from 2022 and 2025. Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich confirmed that four former students provided statements to investigators, while nine potential victims were identified through credible evidence. Wakey has 17 days to request a formal dismissal hearing; if he does not, the firing will take effect automatically. Williamson County Judge Michelle Schafer denied a petition to keep Wakey in custody, stating there was no evidence of violent behavior or recent criminal conduct. The judge ruled that the alleged abuse occurred over a decade ago and that Wakey had maintained employment and community ties since then. Wakey’s suspension without pay follows a prior three-month paid leave during which he continued receiving his salary of roughly $3,300 biweekly. The dismissal process reflects the school board’s conclusion that Wakey was 'not qualified to teach' due to his actions. Investigators had previously relied on a single verified victim statement before expanding their probe based on additional accounts from former students. The case underscores ongoing concerns about accountability in educational institutions regarding allegations of misconduct by staff members.