Jason O’Toole will not be returning as athletic director of Cowley College.
During a meeting of the Cowley College Board of Trustees Monday night in Ark City, the board approved a consent agenda that included O’Toole’s resignation — despite the fact O’Toole submitted a letter to the college rescinding his resignation following the termination of former college president Randy Smith.
O’Toole told Cowley Post Tuesday he sent a letter to the human resources office rescinding his resignation Feb. 6. Cowley’s HR office confirmed the letter was received.
“The Trustees met in executive session to discuss non-elected personnel and after careful consideration approved the consent agenda as published,” the college said Tuesday morning when asked by Cowley Post for clarity regarding its handling of O’Toole and his rescission letter.
On Jan. 23, then-college president Randy Smith forced O’Toole to either resign or be fired. Citing an internal issue, Smith also momentarily fired volleyball coach Steven Gream, but reversed that action by the end of the day.
Monday night the board met in executive session before approving the consent agenda as is.
Item H in the consent agenda read, “The Board was informed of the resignation of Jason O’Toole as athletic director, effective February 28; Julia Jarboe as Mulvane Site Coordinator, effective February 28; and Paige Winslow as Director of Cosmetology, effective May 31.”
O’Toole, who played baseball at Cowley and graduated from the school in 1994, had been employed at Cowley College for the past 25 years. O’Toole assumed the position of athletic director at Cowley in July 2021.
Under O’Toole’s guidance, the Cowley College athletic department placed fourth in the NATYCAA (National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators) Cup standings during the 2021-2022 athletic season.
Days before he submitted his resignation, Cowley College announced O’Toole was selected to represent the college as the new NJCAA Region VI Assistant Women’s Director.
An online petition asking the board to reinstate O’Toole received nearly 1,000 signatures.
