Coach resigns amid allegations he provided alcohol to minors

LENOIR, N.C. — Joshua Woodruff resigned at Hibriten High School in Caldwell County after his arrested Tuesday.

Parents told Eyewitness News reporter Dave Faherty they are shocked by the accusations.

Earlier in May police put up three dozen posters in Hibriten High School about underage drinking. Days after they went up they got a tip about the coach.

Police charged Woodruff with three counts of giving beer or wine to someone under 21. Police say all of the cases involve students at the high school, where Woodruff was the head wrestling coach and also helped school leaders discipline students.

"It hurts. It really does. It hurts. These children look up to these people," said Kathy Andrews, the mother of a student at the school.

"Your kid's around somebody who was their mentor that could perhaps be getting alcohol for them. I'm just sad to hear about that," said David Busch, a student's father.

Faherty went by Woodruff's home Tuesday where investigators believe the alcohol was provided to students earlier this school year, but no one came to the door. Lenoir Police Chief Scott Brown showed Faherty the posters his office put up earlier this month encouraging students to report adults providing alcohol.

The posters even listed a Crime Stoppers number offering a cash reward for the information. The chief said he made it a top priority after receiving several complaints for the community.

"They call it underage drinking for a reason. That's not open for misinterpretation. It is unacceptable. We can't have that kind of character in our school system," Brown said.

Woodruff's neighbors said they were stunned by news of his arrest.

"He's a good guy. We go to church together at First Baptist in Lenoir. And he's one of the good guys I think," said neighbor Joe Davis.

The school district said Woodruff worked in Caldwell County for nearly 10 years.

WSOC