THS football coach placed on leave

Tucumcari High School’s head football coach has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

Tucumcari Public Schools interim superintendent Dave Johnson said that coach Tarik Emback was placed on leave after being notified of an allegation in January that Johnson would not specify.

Johnson said the investigation should be wrapped up “in a few weeks.”

He did not give specifics on the allegation because it is a personnel matter, though he said he might give more information later.

Quay County Sheriff Dennis Garcia said his department investigated the incident and determined there was no criminal activity involved.

Reached by phone last week, Embrack said he could not talk about the situation.

“There’s not much to really say or I’m allowed to say,” he said.

He confirmed he is contesting the allegation.

“That’s all I can do right now is just sit and wait,” he said. “There’s not much I can do, but I know I’m not supposed to really talk about it.”

Embrack said if he’s cleared, he wants to remain as Tucumcari’s football coach.

Under first-year coach Embrack in 2023, a young and developing Rattlers squad logged a 3-6 season, the most wins for the program since 2015. Tucumcari also earned its first district victory since 2017.