"Track season is over and there's no doubt in my mind that we won't reinstate him," said School Superintendent John Daggett. "(Athletic Director) Jim Nagel is very surprised. (The assistant coach) had great rapport with the kids."

Assistant coach Kyle Kekoa Peterson, 22, of 43 Morse St., Ashland, was arrested Wednesday on charges of manufacture, possession, and delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school. Police found seven marijuana plants, eight bags of pot, and several hundred dollars in cash at his home across the street from the school.

Peterson's roommate, Kyle Albin Misener, 25, also was arrested on the same charges.

Two Ashland High School students aged 15 and 16 also were arrested for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. It was unclear Thursday whether the boys were on the track team. Police said Thursday the investigation is continuing.

Daggett said Peterson approached the school last fall about helping coach the football team.

"He volunteered last fall with Jim Nagel. No pay," Daggett said.

"He said, `I'm a college student and just want to help out."'

Daggett said parents called the school praising Peterson's work with their children.

When the spring track season came around, Peterson was put on contract and paid to assist. The school district checked his background as well as they could, Daggett said.

"We run everyone -- volunteers and coaches -- through a criminal background check," Daggett said. "He was clean. Totally clean. We had no reason to worry about him because we checked with both FBI and state of Oregon."

Daggett said he doesn't know what more the school district could have done to prevent the current situation.