Mineral Wells Area News

By Amy Meyer/Mineral Wells Area News

Mineral Wells ISD has named two interim coaches to complete the season after putting head basketball coach Taylor Luster on administrative leave after reports named him and hundreds of other teachers in an alleged statewide cheating scandal.

The school district has appointed former head basketball coach Aaron Pappas to the boy’s team after removing Luster from the position last week. Pappas previously held the same job for the Rams from 2011 to 2018 and led them into the playoffs several times.

The Texas Education Agency has released a list of hundreds of teachers across the state who are currently under investigation for a state wide scandal alleging participants cheated on their certification exams by paying someone to take the test for them. MWISD placed Luster on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Superintendent David Tarver says the district will wait on the TEA’s conclusion & results before making any final decisions about Luster, but until then, he’s sidelined.

“This is a TEA investigation, conducted solely by them, independent from the district. The district will stand aside as to not interfere with their ongoing investigation,” said Tarver.

Aaron Pappas has been an employee of the district for 26 years and is currently a science teacher at the junior high and felt compelled to pick up his whistle one more time for the kids when he was asked.

“I saw an opportunity to help out the players and coaching staff stay on track in an attempt to have the most successful season possible,” said Pappas, who wasted no time hitting the hardwood with his new team.

The Rams have only found their way into the win column once this season but maybe Pappas can help get them on track. He’s not unfamiliar with the team by any means considering he’s been in the stands watching his son, junior Wyatt Pappas play for the Rams.

Fore the Kids

In addition to basketball, Luster was also the golf coach, leaving a vacancy in that sport as well, so MWISD turned to another veteran coach to pick up the program.

Tommy Fincher coached seventeen years for MWISD and says it was the most rewarding experience of his life.

“Golf is an always challenging, and sometimes rewarding sport that you can continue to play throughout your adult life.  I want to give the boys and girls at Mineral Wells High School the tools to improve so that they can  enjoy the game that I have loved for almost 50 years. Our goal is to have fun and build memories. If these two goals are reached, the golf program will be successful for the future at MWHS,” stated Fincher.