Former Tennessee women's track coach arrested

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - The former women&#39;s track coach at the University of Tennessee was arrested Tuesday on charges she used the identity of a former school athlete to steal nearly $5,000. <br> <br> Myrtle Ferguson, who resigned as coach in mid-April, was indicted by a Knox County grand jury on three counts of identity theft involving former Tennessee star Kelli White. <br> <br> John Gill, special counsel to District Attorney General Randy Nichols, said the charges against Ferguson involve a credit card company. He did not elaborate how White&#39;s identity was used to obtain money. <br> <br> Ferguson was head track coach at Tennessee from 1998 until this spring. She surrendered at the Knox County District Attorney General&#39;s office Tuesday afternoon after learning that authorities were looking for her. <br> <br> Tennessee Women&#39;s Athletics Director Joan Cronan said Tuesday night that the university was aware of the allegations against Ferguson. <br> <br> ``I am saddened by this apparent breach of trust by a former employee,&#39;&#39; she said. <br> <br> Cronan said the university has been doing an internal audit of the track and field program since officials became aware Ferguson was under investigation. <br> <br> White, a 25-year-old sprinter from Oakland, Calif., competed for the Lady Vols from 1996 to 1999. She is currently a professional on the track circuit and won the bronze medal in the 200 meters at the 2001 World Track and Field Championships. <br> <br> Ferguson was a track standout at Tennessee when she was known as Myrtle Chester. She graduated from the school in 1984 and coached at LSU and elsewhere before returning to Tennessee to coach. <br> <br> The investigation was conducted by the district attorney&#39;s white-collar crimes unit and by the UT Police Department.