MPD: West High School girls basketball coach sought for sex assault charges

Madison police are looking for West High School’s girls basketball coach for reported sexual assault charges.

Shelton M. Kingcade, 43, has been suspended since February 25 as the Madison Metropolitan School District investigates the allegations, Madison police said.

The alleged assaults happened to more than one girl in her early teens, a Madison police source tells News 3 Investigates.

The alleged assaults happened while Kingcade coached the Madison Spartan Youth Basketball program, not while coaching at West High School, officials said.

Madison police said they tried to arrest Kingcade Tuesday, but he eluded officers.  Police believe he may be driving a gold Nissan Maxima. They have also spoken with Kingcade’s attorney about turning himself in.

Madison Spartans Youth Basketball program director Stephen Blue released a statement to News 3 Tuesday night: “The Madison Spartans do not have any employees. Mr. Kingcade was listed as the boys coordinator on our website, but was only acting in a limited capacity, as I do the majority of the coordination for both our boys and girls teams. Given the current status of the investigation and pending charges, Mr. Kingcade is no longer serving in any role in our organization.”

MMSD officials said Kingcade is a Madison School and Community Recreation high school specialist with additional coaching duties on the side.

“As soon as we became aware of allegations, Mr. Kingcade was suspended from employment with MSCR. He will remain suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation,” MMSD spokesperson Rachel Strauch-Nelson said in a statement to News 3. “We will also take appropriate follow-up steps based on the outcome of that investigation.”

Kingcade was originally hired at MSCR in a seasonal position in June of 1989, Strauch-Nelson said. He moved to his current position in May of 2004.

Kingcade was also a part-time employee at the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County. He worked with 50-60 boys as part of the teen boys basketball program.

In a letter sent to parents and guardians Tuesday night, BGCDC CEO Michael Johnson said they immediately suspended Kingcade after hearing about the allegations, which are not related to his work at the club.

It was Kingcade’s reputation that led Johnson to bring him on board last summer as a part-time teen boys basketball coach.

“Coach had a really good reputation. He’s been a coach in this community in different environments for more than 20 years,” Johnson said. “I’m hearing from a lot of people that are surprised. I’m hearing from some parents that don’t believe this is true.”

Kingcade also previously coached boys basketball at Oregon High School.

Kingcade faces tentative charges of second-degree sexual assault of a child, engaging in repeated acts of sexual assault of the same child and exposing a child to harmful materials.

Madison police are asking other possible victims to come forward.

If you have an investigative tip, contact Adam Schrager at aschrager@wisctv.com.