Evanston Township High School’s former athletic director was arrested Tuesday on charges of felony theft, a day after the school board fired him during an investigation of the disappearance of $1,200 in basketball ticket proceeds.
Michael Durrah allegedly took the money shortly after midnight March 8 and disappeared. His sister called police to report him missing two days later.
On Monday the school board fired Durrah for “job abandonment,” Supt. Allan Alson said.
Police said they arrested Durrah, 42, of the 6100 block of North Sheridan Road, Chicago, Tuesday in Chicago, although they declined to say where or under what circumstances.
“It is always good to have some closure, but there is a very strong sense of sadness,” Alson said. Speculation about Durrah’s whereabouts and the missing money have been the subject of discussion in the community, he said.
Durrah became the school’s athletic director last summer after having been assistant principal for athletics and activities and the football coach at North Chicago Community High School for five years.
Some people who knew Durrah said they were shocked when they heard of the theft allegations.
“He made an effort to go out and meet the parents,” said Rom Kazl, whose daughter is a junior on the Evanston high school swimming team. “He appeared to be keeping a high profile, and it seemed like he was settling in nicely. It is a very weird, bizarre thing.”
The missing $1,200 was from a March 5 boys basketball game at the school, which Durrah attended, officials said.
On March 6 Durrah didn’t show up for a meeting with other coaches and athletic directors to plan basketball tournament games, Alson said.
On March 8, he entered the school shortly after midnight after checking in with a security guard, said Kathy Miehls, a school spokeswoman. “When someone did rounds later, they found out that the door to the athletic office was broken into,” Miehls said. The well-liked athletic director has been on administrative leave since that day, she said.
Durrah didn’t return to the school, officials said.
“He did not come to work and did not inform us of his whereabouts” for several days, Alson said.
On March 10, Durrah’s sister reported him missing, but police determined he was in the Chicago area and rescinded the missing-person report later that week, authorities said.
On March 12, Alson sent a letter to parents saying that Durrah had been identified as a suspect in the theft. Alson wrote: “I want to assure you that no students were involved in any way or at any time with this event.”
An arrest warrant was issued March 13.
Durrah has an April 19 court date, officials said. The charge, felony theft from a school, is punishable by probation or 3 to 7 years in prison.
Former athletic director John Riehle will serve as athletic director until the high school finds a replacement, Alson said.
Durrah could not be reached for comment.
Outside the school Tuesday, most students said they had never met or even heard of Durrah.
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As athletic director at Evanston, Durrah hired coaches, oversaw sports facilities, coordinated game and tournament schedules with other schools, and made sure all teams had uniforms and equipment. Alson said there were no previous performance problems and Durrah had been co-chairman of a committee that recommended changes to the school’s athlete eligibility requirements.
Durrah was a standout linebacker at the University of South Carolina from 1980 to 1983. He set the school’s single-season record for tackles with 179 in 1983, according to the South Carolina sports information department.
Michael Grenda, an assistant football coach under Durrah at North Chicago, said the theft allegations surprised him.
“It is not the kind of person that he is,” said Grenda, who became head coach at North Chicago this year. “He really turned things around at this school, and it is hard to see him go to another school and not do the same things. It is very disheartening.”