New Jersey High School Coach Suspended Amid Questions About Players Living With Him

A New Jersey school district suspended its high school boys' basketball coach amid questions whether six players from overseas are living at a home he owns. 

Paterson school officials on Monday suspended Eastside's Juan Griles without pay as coach and with pay as teacher coordinator. 

NJ.com reported that it observed as many as six players leaving Griles' condominium over several mornings. Three are from Puerto Rico and three are from Nigeria. 

According to student profiles in a district database obtained by NJ.com, four of the boys listed Griles as their legal guardian and claimed his condo as their primary address. 

"The district takes this matter very seriously, especially as it pertains to the well-being of our students," district spokeswoman Terry Corallo said in an email. 

When questioned, Griles denied any wrongdoing, telling NJ.com "everything we do here is legit." He admitted being legal guardian to two players from Puerto Rico. Griles also said he used to live in Puerto Rico and is the godfather to one of the players. Griles repeatedly denied more than the two players had ever lived with him, NJ.com reported. 

The district also is cooperating with the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency, which is investigating the boys' welfare, and the state's athletic governing body, which is assessing their eligibility. 

The district also has retained former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice John Wallace to investigate the matter and to make recommendations pertaining to policy, procedures and personnel actions, Corallo said. 

The team has a 14-2 record. 

Coaching duties are being reassigned. 

Eastside High was portrayed in the 1989 movie "Lean On Me," which starred Morgan Freeman as the school's bullhorn-waving principal Joe Clark.