FORNEY, Texas — University of North Texas assistant football coach Tate Wallis, a former teacher and offensive coordinator at North Forney High School, was arrested on allegations he had an improper relationship with a student at Argyle High School in 2019. Amid these allegations, Wallis resigned from UNT yesterday, the university confirmed.
Wallis was a teacher and coach at North Forney High School from March 2017 until April 2018, the Forney Independent School District confirmed with inForney.com today. The district says they are unaware of any complaints regarding Wallis during his employment in Forney.
After leaving North Forney High School, Wallis accepted a teaching and assistant coach position at Argyle High School from April 2018 until January 2020, after which, he accepted a position as an assistant coach at UNT. Prior to his employment at North Forney High School, Wallis coached at Baylor University from 2009 until 2015 under then-coach Art Briles.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Wallis' charges stem from alleged incidents with a female student on October 4, 2019, and December 3, 2019, while he was an assistant coach at Argyle High School.
In a statement, the Argyle Independent School District says they began investigating reports of alleged inappropriate behavior between Wallis and a student in March 2020. Following the student's report, the incident was reported to the district's police department and campus administrators who began an "intensive investigation" the same day it was reported in conjunction with the Argyle Police Department, Flower Mound Police Department, Texas Department of Family Protective Services, the Children;s Advocacy Center for Denton County, and the Denton County District Attorney's Office to ensure a "fair and through process."
"This alleged misconduct does not represent the nearly 500 teachers and staff members in Argyle ISD who are dedicated to the care and safety of our Eagle students, and are committed to serving their best interests every day," continued a statement from the district, in part.
Following his resignation yesterday, Wallis' attorney Earl Dobson issued a statement to the Denton Record-Chronicle, which reads: "Coach Wallis voluntarily resigned his position with the University of North Texas Football Program, effective immediately. He maintains his innocence and is preparing to defend himself against the pending criminal charges in the court system. Coach Wallis wants the best for his players and believes the ongoing legal battle would be a distraction to the players, coaches and University of North Texas supporters."
Anyone with additional information on this investigation can contact the Forney ISD Police Department's non-emergency line at (469) 762-4357, the Argyle ISD Police Department at (940) 464-7241 ext. 2222 or tipline@argyleisd.com, or, to remain anonymous, the Kaufman County Crime Stoppers at (877) 847-7522.
