A Level 3 grievance filed by Pine Bluff High School football Coach Micheal Williams that the Pine Bluff School District violated its own policy on employee discipline was ruled “not grievable” by the district board following a Monday night hearing.
The board voted 4-2 to accept that the complaint was, “on its face,” not grievable, following the hearing officiated by Little Rock attorney Khayyam Eddings. Williams, represented by Pine Bluff attorney Mircha King, argued that he was not informed before being placed on administrative leave of an investigation into his involvement with student records for prospective NCAA Division I student-athletes when he was called into a meeting with athletic director Billy Dixon and assistant superintendent Kelvin Gragg last Oct. 7.
Board President Sederick Charles Rice, Lozanne Calhoun, Bonita Corbin and Charles Colen voted to accept the motion the complaint was not grievable, while Patrick Lockett and Ricky Whitmore Jr. voted against it. Board member Jomeka Edwards was absent.
Williams had been on paid administrative leave since Oct. 8, when PBSD Superintendent Jennifer Barbaree issued a statement that the PBSD recognized “the importance of addressing the academic integrity within our athletic program.” Barbaree added: “The District is aware of concerns related to these issues and is actively investigating the matter in coordination with appropriate agencies.”
Barbaree, who was represented by PBSD Attorney Cody Kees, declined to offer a timeline for completion of the investigation, details of which were not aired during the hearing. Both sides agreed not to go into the details, citing employee confidentiality.
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“Right now, the investigation is out of my hands, so I don’t get to create that timeline,” said Barbaree, adding she could not divulge which organizations are involved in the probe.
Williams said the past four months have been hard, especially given the board has banned him from contacting student-athletes and members of the athletic staff.
“It’s been very hard to deal with, knowing that the kids really, really need me,” Williams said. “Some of the stuff I’m seeing (is) that the kids are just floating in the wind without a leader. It’s very disappointing not to be around them, especially during this important time of college recruiting season.”
Assistant head coach Tyrone Jones has acted as interim head coach in Williams’ absence.
The traditional National Signing Day is Wednesday, and Williams said this may the first time since his June 2022 hire that PBHS won’t have a signing day. He said 23 Zebras have signed letters of intent with college programs, including seven to Division I programs.
“That’s a lot compared to what we normally have, so it’s a little heartbreaking,” Williams said.
In explaining his understanding of the case, Williams said the board is not seeing enough evidence to substantiate bringing him back to work. King argued that Williams was being penalized by being put on leave, although the district argued that paid administrative leave is not a disciplinary measure.
Williams, a 2002 PBHS graduate, has a 19-18 overall record (15-10 in conference play), not counting the final five weeks of the 2025 season in which he was on leave. The former Zebra running back took on a task of turning around a storied program that had gone 2-7 the season before.
Williams achieved that in 2022 with a 5-4 mark despite not having a full offseason. In 2023, with University of Missouri signees Austyn Dendy (now at Bowling Green State in Ohio) and Courtney Crutchfield (now at the University of Arkansas) leading the offense, the Zebras won the 5A-Central Conference championship and made it to the 5A semifinals, losing at home to Shiloh Christian.
Williams’ 2024 Zebras endured a rebuilding season and his 2025 Zebras started 1-4 — having lost two games by six or fewer points — when he was placed on leave. Jones helped Pine Bluff finish 3-7 and 3-4 in the 5A-Central (fifth place) for the second straight year.
The district has come under public scrutiny for the length of time Williams has been on leave. Some had signed up to speak in support of Williams during the public comment time, but Rice stated publicly before the meeting, without mentioning Williams, speakers would not be allowed to address a student or a personnel matter that may result in disciplinary or employment action, pointing to Section I, subsection (f)(1)(B), in Act 902 of the 2025 state Legislature.