John Marshall track coach suspended, suspected of having sex with student

A coach at John Marshall Mid-High School has come under police investigation after a 16-year-old student on the track team admitted she had sex with him twice.

Elijah Gill, a part-time employee and coach, was suspended without pay pending the outcome of the investigation, Oklahoma City Public Schools spokesman Mark Myers confirmed Wednesday.

Gill, 24, had only been employed by the district since March 31, Myers said.

A booster said Gill had been a volunteer coach at the school since December.

Gill is a former track standout who helped John Marshall win a state title in 2010, and was a member of the Little All-City boys first team as a senior. He was described in a newspaper report as a “key piece” in the title run, winning gold in the open 400 and 400 relay.

Police described the investigation as a rape case. In Oklahoma, it is illegal for a school employee to have with sex with a student, even if it is consensual.

The case

The district employee, whose name was blacked out in a police report, is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old student, according to the document.

Police learned about the relationship Monday when an officer interviewed another student about inappropriate texts.

When investigators interviewed the second student, she admitted to having sex with the coach at a house in Edmond and again in the coach’s vehicle.

The report indicates other students were aware of the sexual relationship.

“The safety and security of students is the highest priority within our district,” Myers said in news release. “We ask that all questions regarding the ongoing criminal investigation be addressed with OKCPD.”

A John Marshall parent who requested anonymity told The Oklahoman that his daughter quit the track team after less than a week because of the coach’s behavior.

“She said she felt uncomfortable because of the way he would look at her and other girls while they were warming up,” the parent said.

Police declined to release the district employee’s name during a news conference Wednesday at the Oklahoma City police station.

“We know of at least one victim at this time, in this case,” Sgt. Ashley Peters said. “There has been no arrest or charges filed at this time.”

Peters said there could be multiple victims.

“That’s a possibility,” she said. “Detectives were talking to potential victims and possible potential victims today.”

Peters would not confirm whether investigators had interviewed the district employee or whether he had been located.