A former Valencia High baseball head coach accused of embezzlement was ordered to stand trial this week.

Valencia High Baseball Coach Jared Snyder Takes Leave Of Absence

Posted by: Perry Smith in William S. Hart Union School District March 21, 2014 - 2:19 pm 0 671 Views

Dave Caldwell of SCVTV contributed to this report

A longtime Valencia High teacher and the school’s head baseball coach has taken a temporary leave of absence, according to Hart district spokeswoman Gail Pinsker.

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Jared Snyder, Valencia High’s head baseball coach, has taken a leave of absence while district officials conduct a further investigation into a parental complaint, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

The leave is effective today, Hart district officials said.

An initial investigation into a parent’s accusation that there was a misappropriation of funds revealed there might be evidence to support the allegation, said a source with knowledge of the investigation.

“The (William S. Hart Union High School District) confirms that Valencia High School assistant baseball coach, Michael Killinger has assumed the Valencia High School head baseball coaching responsibilities while Coach Jared Snyder is on leave,” Pinsker said in a statement.

No further information was available, and district officials could not answer questions regarding whether the leave was voluntary or a disciplinary measure, Pinsker said.

SCVTV’s Dave Caldwell reached Snyder by phone Friday, and while he confirmed he was on leave, he would not comment further.

Hart district officials could not release any more details at this time, Pinsker said, saying only the decision to place Snyder on leave was “a personnel issue.”

Snyder has been with the school since 1998, according to Valencia High School’s website.

“Snyder, a Nichols State alumnus (1993), has built Valencia into one of the perennial powers in Southern California,” the site states. “He has taken probably one of the worst facilities in California and turned it into one of the top in the nation.”

Under his guidance, Valencia High has won eight Foothill League titles. In 2006, the Vikings set school records for both overall wins (25) and league wins (14).

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