Former Northern Cass volleyball coach resigned after allegedly “physically restraining” a student-athlete – InForum

FARGO — Former Northern Cass head volleyball coach Angie Johnson resigned mid-season after the school suspended her without pay pending an investigation into where she allegedly physically restrained, exchanged profanities and knocked out a student-athlete’s tooth.

Those details were disclosed in Johnson’s personnel file with the Northern Cass School District, which the Forum requested as part of an open records request.

Northern Cass Superintendent Cory Steiner notified Johnson of the charges and suspension in a letter dated Oct. 1.

The letter accused Johnson of “knocking out a student-athlete’s tooth, exchanging profanity with the student-athlete, and physically restraining the student-athlete.” No other details were provided.

Johnson declined to comment on the allegations when contacted by The Forum on Friday, October 25. She formally resigned as coach on October 4.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have been given in this position,” Johnson wrote in her resignation letter. “I will hold all these relationships and memories close to my heart.”

Northern Cass operations director Bryce Laxdal declined to comment Friday.

This fall, Johnson began her sixth season as the Jaguars’ head coach. She led Northern Cass to back-to-back North Dakota Class B volleyball state championships in 2022 and 2023.

Following Johnson’s resignation, Beth Head and Jamie Haseleu became co-coaches of the Jaguars volleyball team.

This season, the Jaguars are 22-9 overall and 7-2 in Region 1. Northern Cass plays Thompson on the road on Monday, October 28 at 7 p.m.

“It was difficult,” Johnson told The Forum in a text message last week about her resignation, “but I had to make a decision that was best for me, my family and the team.”

After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January 2023. Readers can contact him at 701-241-5508 or by email at [email protected]