Freshman Football Coach Fired For Striking Player

September 23, 2011 / Football

Dan Widrich, a first-year freshman football coach for Hagerty, was arrested and fired from that position after engaging in a physical confrontation with a ninth grade football player after a game Wednesday night.

The Seminole County Sherriff’s arrest report states that Widrich grabbed a juvenile player by the shoulder pads and pushed him up against lockers and in doing so struck the players’ face. Several coaches broke up the altercation, which followed a homefield loss to Oviedo.

Hagerty principal Sam Momary said he talked to parties involved following the game — including the player’s mother — and immediately fired Widrich, who is not on Hagerty’s faculty but was hired in August to a supplementary part-time coaching position.

“It was not a fight or anything, just inappropriate contact,” Momary said. “That doesn’t meet the standard of behavior that we expect from people. Anybody that can’t treat kids appropriately can’t work here. I have removed that coach from further contact with our players and school.”

Widrich was charged with battery with bond set at $500.

He was listed as Hagerty’s freshman head football coach on the school web site. Momary said a varsity assistant coach will take over that lead position.


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