An investigation is underway after a video surfaced that appears to show a South Bay high school football coach aggressively pushing a sideline official to the ground at a game on Friday night.
In a grainy video posted on social media and later made private, a coach on the Willow Glen High sideline is seen walking toward the crew that holds the yard markers.
The man picks up the pace as he gets closer to the crew members that were working the game at Leland High and then knocks over one of them with a shove.
The crew member got back on his feet as the coach walked back toward his team.
The Bay Area News Group reached out to Willow Glen principal Amy Hanna and athletic director Eric Ostrowski and the San Jose Unified School District to confirm the validity of the video and to name the coach involved.
Saturday afternoon, district spokesperson Jennifer Maddox emailed the following statement:
“Athletics are a significant part of our school system. Our athletes are able to play because of the support of game officials and field staff. Our top priority is the safety of all involved.
“San José Unified is investigating the incident, and should the assault of a game official or field staff be verified, San José Unified will seek appropriate consequences.”
The district did not name the person in the video.
A text to Willow Glen coach Oscar Caballero, asking for the identity of the person involved and what led to the incident, was not immediately returned.
Crew members at high school games responsible for the yard markers, commonly referred to as the chain gang, generally are volunteers affiliated with the home team. They line up on the visiting sideline during games and follow play up and down the field.
Willow Glen beat Leland 21-14 on Friday.
Willow Glen will host Overfelt on Friday, Sept. 22, while Leland will play Pioneer that same evening.
Source: www.mercurynews.com