A FOX 34 follow-up on former Texas Tech football defensive coordinator James Willis. He has pleaded guilty to a charge of assault, domestic violence.
Willis was sentenced to six months deferred probation; if he violates this sentence he could face up to a year in jail. Willis must also attend anger management classes and serve 30 hours of community service.
According to a Wolfforth Police Report an officer responded to the Willis home on the morning of December 22, in reference to a report of domestic violence. Shalane Willis claimed her husband slapped her, hit her in the nose and threw her on the bed during an argument. Mrs. Willis says she ran out the front door to the neighbors’ house to call 911.
After the domestic abuse allegations surfaced Tech head football coach Tommy Tuberville said the reported abuse was not a factor in Willis leaving the program.
“That was never even discussed when we sat down and talked about his future,” Tuberville said in Dallas, during the week of practice ahead of the team’s bowl game. “He will work through those and everybody has some kind of problems. They seem to be when you read stuff, more serious than what they are, but he is a good guy and has a good family.”
