MEDFORD – South Medford head baseball coach Ray Smith was placed on immediate leave as of Wednesday after he reportedly admitted to school administrators that he consumed alcohol prior to a Panthers baseball game earlier this week.

The Medford Mail Tribune reports that the school district has started an investigation into the matter and there is no word on when or if Smith will return to the dugout. He has led the Panthers for nine seasons and guided the team to a Southwest Conference title this year and the No. 1 ranking in the OSAA 6A classification.

Roseburg has played South Medford three times this season and lost all three. Assistant coach Scott Carle will assume the head coach duties as the Panthers prepare for the end of the conference season on Saturday and the beginning of the state playoffs in less than two weeks.