A youth sports organization in Texas is facing intense backlash after it was revealed that parents were given a waiver allowing a registered sex offender to coach their children. The Texas Home Educators Sports Association (THESA), which organizes athletic programs for homeschooled students in the Fort Worth area, has come under fire following the discovery that Thomas “Tommy” Whiteman, a former baseball player, was previously employed as the head coach of the THESA Riders.
Details of the Offense
Whiteman, 46, is listed on the Texas sex offender registry until 2030 for an offense involving the online solicitation of a minor in 2010. According to registry records, the case involved the communication of explicit material with an individual believed to be a 14-year-old girl.
Waiver Document Controversy
Concerns were raised after reports emerged that parents received a waiver as part of the program’s registration process. The document referenced the coach’s past struggles but did not explicitly disclose his status on the sex offender registry. Instead, it framed his history in the context of personal and religious transformation, according to at least one parent.
The situation was first brought to light by a watchdog group, which noted that the waiver mentioned personal issues but omitted any reference to Whiteman's criminal record. One parent claimed the document was misleading and failed to provide full transparency.
Current Status
Whiteman is no longer listed as a coach on THESA’s website. However, he has been associated with a private sports training facility in the area, where similar personal testimony about his past conduct has reportedly been published. Separately, the Carroll Independent School District confirmed it is reviewing concerns after Whiteman was previously listed as an approved off-campus activity provider. The district stated that, to its knowledge, only one student had used the provider during the 2022–23 school year at a parent’s request.
THESA has not publicly commented on the matter at the time of reporting.
