A Pierce College football coach accused of arranging improper housing conditions for athletes and allowing players to live in the campus locker room has been placed on temporary administrative leave pending an internal investigation into his conduct, said the college president late Thursday.

Coach Carlos Woods allegedly collected $300 to $400 in monthly rent from players, some of whom Woods is accused of recruiting from out of state, who were later evicted from an overcrowded apartment. The allegations and news of an internal investigation were first reported Wednesday by Pierce College student newspaper The Roundup.

The news prompted a defense of the school earlier Thursday from President Alexis Montevirgen, who referred to “proud tradition of providing intercollegiate competitive sports opportunities for our students in accordance with the established policies and procedures” of the Los Angeles Community College district.

“The health and safety of our students is a primary concern of the College, our Chancellor and the Board of Trustees,” Montevirgen continued in the statement. “Any allegations concerning employee misconduct or issues involving student safety are taken very seriously and will be thoroughly reviewed.”

Later Thursday, Montevirgen announced that Woods has now been placed on leave, pending the outcome of an investigation. He said he hoped to name an acting head coach for the football team within the next few days.

Dean of Student Services and Equity Genice Sarcedo-Magruder, who is also the acting athletic director, told the paper an investigation was launched after multiple complaints were filed by students and staff.

Woods reportedly declined to comment on the complaints.

At least four players lived in the locker this semester after they were evicted, according to The Roundup. They had been among a group of at least 30 players who were living in a three-bedroom apartment at De Soto Avenue and Vanowen Street. One player likened the conditions to a camp or a jail.

The coach is also accused of recruiting out-of-state players and allowing other ineligible players to compete in games.

Jose Cordova, a former player who no longer attends the college, told the paper that players in the apartment slept in bunk beds and on cots in any available space.

“Coach Woods told me that I was valid to move to L.A. from Orlando, Florida, and that my housing would be set up with other players coming in and returning athletes,” Cordova said. “Woods told me that it would be four to five players in a three-bedroom, and we would all split the bills and each pay $350 for rent ‘everything included.”‘

He said that once he arrived, however, it felt like the coach had packed nearly the whole team into the apartment and when they received eviction notices on their door, the coach said they would have until the end of the 2018 fall semester to live there, and then would be on their own. Many of the players were from out of state, he said, adding that he ended up homeless, living out of his car.

Woods left his previous job, as an assistant football coach at Gavilan College in 2017, after he and another coach were placed on leave for accusations of recruiting and benefits violations that resulted in 17 players being dismissed, according to San Benito Newspaper (SanBenito.com).

Reporter Ariella Plachta and City News Service contributed to this story.