The local chiropractor, high school wrestling coach and professional cage fighter who said he wanted to tussle with President Barack Obama has been put on paid administrative leave by the White Bear Lake school district.
In an online interview Jan. 1 following his Ultimate Fighting Championship victory in Las Vegas, Jacob Volkmann, 30, of White Bear Lake told a reporter he’d like to get Obama in the ring.
“He’s not too bright,” Volkmann said in the interview.
In several subsequent interviews about the statement — including one in the Pioneer Press — Volkmann is seen wearing clothing emblazoned with the school district’s logo.
“They told me I was representing White Bear in a bad way,” Volkmann said Wednesday.
Volkmann said the district told him of its decision Monday and that it would have to review the situation before he could help with the high school wrestling team. The district gave him no timeline on its review, Volkmann said.
He still will be able to coach a grade-school youth wrestling team, he said.
A spokesperson for the district could not be reached for comment.
Volkmann said he would never hurt the president, but he did disagree with Obama’s health care proposals because they would make it harder for health care providers such as chiropractors to get paid.
