New documents have been filed in the lawsuit over a shocking case of in-school sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl by a popular Perryton coach that sent the child predator to prison for 30 years and ended the career of Amarillo’s police chief.
On Thursday, the abuse victim’s father, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of his daughter, subpoenaed records related to the coach from Amarillo ISD and the Amarillo Police Department.
The abuse occurred in Perryton Independent School District.
The perpetrator was Perryton ISD’s then-athletic director and football coach, Cole Underwood, a Perryton High School graduate and former captain of the football team.
Underwood previously coached at Amarillo ISD, where he earned the nickname “Perv,” short for pervert.
Underwood was first arrested in April 2024 and charged in state court with sexual assault of a child, a second-degree felony.
In August 2024, the victim’s father sued Underwood and Perryton ISD in federal court.
The complaint revealed details about how Underwood manipulated the young student athlete into a sexual relationship and had sex with her on campus at least 10 times, as documented by school surveillance cameras.
Underwood’s then-wife worked an administrative job in the small Texas Panhandle district.
Students and staff allegedly reported Underwood’s intimate behavior with the victim to administrators, including Perryton ISD Superintendent Greg Brown, for months before Underwood was finally investigated and arrested.
According to the lawsuit, at least one Perryton ISD coach stated he was reluctant to report the inappropriate conduct he witnessed for fear of retaliation from Underwood.
The lawsuit also revealed Underwood’s history of misconduct in Amarillo ISD, where he was “well known within the school district’s staff and athletic department for having inappropriate relationships and interactions with students, including minor female students.”
Underwood was hired to work at Perryton ISD in 2022 by a former Amarillo ISD coach who was aware of prior allegations against Underwood.
As the victim’s family pursued civil charges, Underwood’s criminal case was moved to federal court in Amarillo, where he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Shockingly, during the sentencing hearing, Underwood’s sister Claire revealed that Cole had sexually abused her from 5th grade through her freshman year of high school.
Also shocking to many in the community, Amarillo’s then-Police Chief Martin Birkenfeld defended Cole in court, sending a pre-sentencing letter to the judge calling Underwood “a good kid.”
Birkenfeld was forced out of office over the scandal after 34 years with the department.
Cole Underwood remains in federal prison.
Underwood’s last victim continues to seek justice in court.
Both Amarillo ISD and Perryton ISD face possible liability for knowingly passing along and hiring a sexual predator.
Cole Underwood and Perryton ISD are represented in the civil suit by Underwood Law Firm, a prominent Amarillo-based firm.
