ROBERTS – The Roberts High School boys basketball coach facing a misdemeanor charge for allegedly kissing a female student is resigning.
John Payovich wrote in a Tuesday letter to Roberts Superintendent Alex Ator and school board members that in light of the recent charges “it is in the best interest of Roberts High School, its students and my two children that I resign from my position as head coach while I go through the judicial process to clear my name.”
The Roberts School Board is scheduled to have its regular board meeting 6 p.m. Wednesday. Payovich’s resignation is listed as an agenda item.
Payovich was charged in August with one count of endangering the welfare of a child. In December 2017 and January 2018, he allegedly had a relationship with a 15-year-old student, which included two instances of kissing, daily texting and a Christmas shopping trip, according to prosecutors.
Payovich was put on leave in January after the allegations were initially reported, but reinstated in July because charges had not yet been filed, according to Ator.
