Medford's football coach is placed on leave

In a move that officials say has sent Medford sports fans reeling, city officials have placed the new high school football coach on paid leave, until the Suffolk district attorney's office completes its criminal investigation of him.

The city's decision was made just days before 70 prospective Medford High School football players are scheduled to depart for a four-day training camp in New Hampshire.

Many of the prospects are new to the game, the Medford Public Schools athletic director, Bobby Maloney, said yesterday. They decided to try football after meeting now-suspended coach James Atkins, Maloney said.

"Historically, this program has not done well, but he's been working incredibly hard to change that," Maloney said about Atkins. "I'm in shock."

Earlier this week, the Chelsea Police Department, where Atkins works as a sergeant, placed him on paid leave, until the conclusion of both the district attorney's probe and a separate Police Department investigation.

Chelsea officials have refused to discuss the investigation, but Atkins's Boston-based lawyer, Doug Louison, said the probe centers on "some vague allegation of the misappropriation of monies from a football program at Chelsea High School," where Atkins was head football coach from 2004 to 2006.

"None of it is true," Atkins said yesterday in a telephone interview, before referring the Globe to Louison, who said his client "adamantly and strongly denies" those allegations," adding that "he's offered to work with authorities to clear his name."

In Chelsea, Atkins took over and transformed a lackluster team. Under his watch, the Red Devils had three straight winning seasons and a 2005 league co-championship. In 2005, Atkins was named the Boston Globe's Division 3A Coach of the Year and a New England Patriots Coach of the Week. His lawyer said a sportswriter has begun writing a book on Atkins's coaching prowess.

But in March, the Chelsea School Department opted not to renew his contract. Chelsea Superintendent Thomas S. Kingston said yesterday that employee privacy rules prevented him from discussing why the contract was not renewed.

In May, Atkins signed a one-year contract with Medford, whose Division 1 Mighty Mustangs won just one game last season. Atkins immediately began promoting the football team, Maloney said.

"He's been in the schools since May 1, talking to the teachers and talking to the kids," Maloney said.

Late yesterday, Medford Superintendent Roy Belson named Jon Wilson, a Medford High School science teacher and longtime assistant coach, as interim head coach.

Then Atkins met with the players. "He told them to work hard, because they have good potential," Belson said. "He said hopefully things will clear up for him and he'll be back at work."

Atkins joined the Chelsea Police Department in 1993 and was named sergeant in 2002. He has been a member of a regional antigang task force and is president of the Chelsea Police Superior Officers Association.

McConville can be reached at cmcconville@globe.com.