ALA Gilbert North coach fired over decisions related to Preston Lord defendant
The American Leadership Academy Gilbert North high school football coach was fired earlier this year because he decided to allow a player later charged in connection with the death of Preston Lord on the field without looping in other school leaders, according to a statement issued by the ALA charter school network.
Randy Ricedorff, who was also the school's athletic director, was let go in early January.
"The decision to play the student in question and name him player of the game should have included school administration and other school leaders," the ALA statement said. "It did not, and we regret that decision. Due to practical and philosophical differences about this and other issues, ALA parted ways with the former campus athletic director and head football coach earlier this year."
Talan Renner was a running back at ALA Gilbert North. He and six other people were charged in early March with first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with Lord's death. Renner, 17, was charged as an adult.
Lord, 16, was beaten by a group outside of a Halloween house party in Queen Creek on Oct. 28 and left on the street. Two days later, he died from his injuries. His death sparked outrage in the southeast Valley.
Despite community outcry suggesting Renner was involved in the attack on Lord, Renner played in a Nov. 17 playoff football game against Scottsdale Horizon. ALA Gilbert North named him its MaxPreps Player of the Game. Renner also played in ALA Gilbert North's playoff win over Marana on Nov. 9.
Statement: ALA Gilbert North had scant info about police investigation
In early November, police conducted a closed-door interview "with a former ALA student who was later indicted" in connection with Lord's death, the ALA statement said. That student was Renner.
But after the interview, police told school leaders Renner could go back to class and "resume his normal school activities," the statement said.
"At that time, ALA was not made aware of the content discussed in the interview, the existence of any search warrants, or if any evidence was obtained connecting the former student to Preston Lord's death," the statement said.
By Nov. 17, police had not named suspects or people of interest, or made any arrests. Nor had law enforcement told ALA "specifics of their investigation" into Lord's death, the statement said.
"Had there been such information, ALA would have removed the student in question from campus pending the outcome of law enforcement investigations," the statement said.
ALA also denied receiving or accepting a $10,000 donation from Renner's family "or anyone indicted in Preston Lord's death, nor from any of their family businesses."
"Allegations suggesting otherwise is patently false," the statement said.
In a Queen Creek police report released last week, an ex-girlfriend of Renner's father, Travis Renner, told police he once made a $10,000 donation to ALA and sponsored sports programs through his business to prevent them from expelling his son.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Richard Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert.
Elena Santa Cruz is a criminal justice reporter for The Republic. Reach her at elena.santacruz@gannett.com. Follow her on X @ecsantacruz3.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gilbert football coach fired over decisions related to Preston Lord
