H.S. rescinds coaching offer to former NFL player

Former NFL player Artrell Hawkins Jr. was recently offered the chance to coach football at his alma mater, Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pa. At a press conference announcing the hiring, he said he felt like he'd been hired to coach at Notre Dame.

Within days, though, the school rescinded the offer. It appears administrators had not completed a background check before offering Hawkins the position. Once they did, they realized he was not an appropriate choice.

“Coaching successions go through a formal process. … Unfortunately, this process was not appropriately followed in this circumstance,” school officials wrote in a statement.

The Associated Press reports that the decision was related to a domestic violence arrest last year in Cinncinnati, but the school's public relations spokesperson did not respond when the AP asked if that was the reason.

Police were called to Hawkins' house in Springdale, Ohio, last year after he kicked in a basement door and, according to the report, made his wife fear for her and their children's safety.

Hawkins was found not guilty in the case – but this is reportedly not the first time it has cost him a job. Defense attorney William Gallagher told the AP that it also cost Hawkins a radio gig with Fox Sports.

A second-round pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, Hawkins played six seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, one with the Carolina Panthers, and two with the New England Patriots before retiring in 2006.