Posted: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:14 PM - 8,811 Readers

By: Danny Davis

The Texas Education Agency has closed its investigation on former Lake Travis soccer coach Brett Schwab. In a letter to Schwab, dated on June 24, the TEA said they deemed that no further action was required in his case.

In May, Schwab resigned after allegations arose that he was drinking on the Lake Travis tennis team’s trip to the regional tournament in San Antonio.

Schwab admitted that he had a beer in the hotel bar after the athletes had checked into their rooms for curfew. Schwab, who was an assistant coach during the fall team tennis season, was not on the tennis team’s coaching staff but was volunteering with the team and had his hotel room paid for by the Lake Travis ISD.

Schwab was initially placed on administrative leave and then decided to resign for accountability purposes and to protect his future.

“I teach business law and one of the first rules is ignorance is no excuse and one of the things I always tell my players is you have to be responsible for your actions,” Schwab said on Thursday. “I knew if you go before the school board and they fire you, your teaching career is over.”

In retrospect, Schwab said he regretted the embarrassment he brought to his family and the fact that he was unable to have closure with many of his players. Schwab had to miss the signing party for his athletes who received college scholarships.

Lake Travis has since hired former Dripping Springs coach Ian Dillon as its new head soccer coach. Lake Travis ISD had no further comment on the TEA’s decision concerning Schwab, who led the Cavaliers into the regional quarterfinals last season.

In order to expand his resume, Schwab recently passed a test that will allow him to teach mathematics to 4th-8th graders. He hopes that a teaching job in the Austin area will open up and he is also considering applying for education-related jobs.

Schwab says he would like to return to coaching but said he would be fine with just teaching.

*  Story Contributed by: Danny Davis