Alabama high school coach put on leave after player assaulted
By admin - 2018-12-04 01:37:29

A high school football coach in Alabama was placed on administrative leave Tuesday by the Mobile County Public School System Tuesday after several of his players were captured on video beating one of their teammates in a locker room.

According to AL.com, Davidson High’s Fred Riley had been under fire since since a cell phone video surfaced in late April of then-freshman Rodney Kim Jr. being assaulted by teammates following a Davidson spring football practice. As a result, nine players have been suspended and a $12-million lawsuit was filed in what Kim’s parents are calling a hazing attack. Two more families have since filed similar claims against the school system, alleging that their children were also victimized by Warrior football players. Mobile County schools spokeswoman Rena Phillips said Riley’s leave is essentially a suspension with pay.

Riley, who was about to enter his 15th year as head coach at Davidson and has compiled a record of 110-50 at the school, has yet to comment on the incident except  to say he plans to continue coaching. He’s taken the team to the playoffs 10 times, including a state semifinal berth in 2010. Riley has also won numerous coaching awards, including the AHSAA Class 6A Making a Difference Award in 2011 and L’Arche’s Lefty Anderson Service Through Coaching Award in 2015.

The school system has reportedly been working to name an interim head coach at Davidson.