Crete-Monee basketball coach put on paid leave pending state probe

Updated: May 10, 2011 5:27PM

Crete-Monee boys basketball coach Matt Ryndak has been placed on paid administrative absence pending an investigation by a state agency.

“All I can tell you is we were contacted last week by some state authority who simply said an investigation was going to be conducted by this agency and they were going to have to contact Matt,” Crete-Monee High School District 201 Supt. John Rodgers said Tuesday. “We felt it was in the best interests of the school and the students to place Matt on leave in order to cooperate in the investigation.”

Rodgers said a state agency, which he declined to identify, was investigating a complaint but did not say from whom, noting the agency “was very sketchy about details.” He also said the agency requested he not identify it, adding, “They did not want to be inundated by calls.”

Ryndak, who did not return multiple calls to his cell phone seeking comment, is being paid while on leave. Rodgers said he didn’t know how long he’d be out.

“We haven’t been told by the agency when the investigation will take place or how long it will take,” Rodgers said.

Ryndak joined Rocky Hill’s staff at Crete-Monee as an assistant in 2009 before taking over the top job for the 2010-11 season. He led the Warriors to a 25-4 mark and a supersectional berth.

Previously, he served as the head coach at Johnsburg for one season, 2007-08, before spending a year with “Joy of the Game,” a basketball facility in Deerfield.

"Ryndak initially applied simply to coach at Crete-Monee," Rodgers said.

Rodgers noted there was special attention paid to Ryndak’s departure from Johnsburg before he was brought in at Crete-Monee.

“For him, in particular, we actually did go all the way up to the superintendent level,” Rodgers said. “There were some questions about the way things ended at his last (high school) job — not anything concerning student safety.”

Once a teaching position opened, Ryndak was subject to a standard FBI background check.

“He was employable,” Rodgers said.

And Ryndak still will be — presuming a clean resolution to the pending investigation.

“We told him who’d be contacting him, and once clearance was received he’d be welcomed back,” Rodgers said. “Obviously, if something does come up, it becomes a legal matter.”

Rodgers said the decision to place Ryndak on administrative absence was consistent with district policy.

“As long as the kids are safe, that’s our standard,” Rodgers said. “We’re not indicting anyone, we’re not alluding to anything.”

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