CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The head football coach at West Charlotte High School, Maurice Flowers, and assistant coach Hazel Richardson submitted their resignations Tuesday.

Both coaches, along with the school’s athletic director, Masanori Toguchi, were suspended with pay in December as the school district investigated an ineligible player.

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools spokesperson said the district accepted the resignations, but couldn’t say why the coaches resigned.

However, Superintendent Peter Gorman said he’s considering releasing the personnel files so the public can know what really happened. First he would have to get permission from the school board to release those records.

“That's one of the options I’m looking at -- for the integrity of the system to share more information. I’m not there yet,” he said.

Gorman said he expects the internal investigation into West Charlotte’s athletic department to wrap up in a week. Then Toguchi’s future with CMS, if he has one, will be announced.

Flowers, Richardson and Toguchi are accused of helped a student use an address that wasn’t his -- which allegedly belonged to Toguchi’s in-laws -- in order to play for the team.

CMS also has not revealed whether West Charlotte’s 13 victories from the 2007 season will have to be forfeited.

Students Upset By Coaches’ Departures

Many student-athletes are upset that after just one year Flowers has left West Charlotte.

“When I heard about it this morning, it just hit me badly,” said football player Lorenzo Stewart. “I feel he kind of took the fall for us because we all worked hard this season. I don’t believe anyone else is going to coach this team like he did; I don’t think anyone will carry us like he did.”

West Charlotte players said they believe their team is being picked on. They’re quick to point out CMS only found one ineligible player amongst them, but found seven ineligible players at Independence.

“It’s not fair because nothing happened to Independence because they had more players than we had. We just had one and that jeopardizes our whole entire season and our coach. That's not right at all,” said football player Von Green.

Independence High School is also under investigation for eligibility issues. Gorman said it will be a month or two until that investigation is complete.

“I’ve told our folks to do it right, don't rush it, but I sure hope were done in 30 to 60 days though,” he said.