A Virginia high school women’s basketball head coach got into a heated altercation with a spectator, jumping over the team bench to grab him, which has led to an investigation into the incident.
Tom Rife, the head coach of the Richlands High School girls’ basketball team, was seen on angry video as he jumped over his team’s bench to face the viewer. He grabbed his shirt and started to push him back, and the viewer didn’t try to resist.
Rife appeared to be gesturing towards security to remove him from the game as he feels he was cut off. Coming from Rife’s reaction to the situation in real time, he clearly didn’t like something he heard.
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A basket at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 12, 2018. (David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
«We are aware of the incident at the RHS basketball game and while we do not tolerate any misconduct by our coaches or spectators at this time, we are still investigating the actions of all parties involved,» the Board of Education superintendent said. of Tazewell County, Dr. Chris. Stacy said in a statement Friday.
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The incident will also be investigated by Deputy Superintendent Diedra Hill, Richlands High School Principal Rickie Vencill and Richlands Athletic Director Frank Daughtery.
Rife has been a longtime coach at Richlands High, spending his first stint at the school as the head coach of the Lady Blue Tornadoes from the 1970s until 2005. He was also the boys’ basketball coach.
A basketball on the court at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, on January 25, 2022. (Chamberlain Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
Rife returned to the show when Aaron Lowe was fired after seven seasons. However, this incident may lead to his immediate dismissal as head coach.
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«Our girls deserve better,» one person wrote on Twitter. «I look forward to the immediate firing of head coach Tom Rife.»
A referee holds a basketball at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on January 17, 2018. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Rife’s team went 22-2 on the season, but lost, 54-51, in this Region 2D girls basketball tournament game to Wise Central High School.