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VIDEO: High school coach appears to headbutt official during a game

A high school basketball coach from Pennsylavia in under fire this morning after a video surfaced online of him appearing to headbutt a referee during a game.

According to City of Basketball Love, the best website covering basketball in and around Philadelphia, the coach is Jerry Devine of Neshaminy HS. Here’s their explanation of what happened:

Multiple sources in attendance tell CoBL that the video shows action with under 30 seconds left in the game, when a Neshaminy player was called for a charge after going in for a layup that could have made it a 3-point game, at which point Devine lost his cool.

There is some college basketball relevance here. Neshaminy is where Ryan Arcidiacono, the starting point guard for Villanova, played his high school ball. Another angle of the incident is embedded below and, according to the broadcast, the player that was called for the foul is Chris Arcidiacono, Ryan’s youngest brother:

The school released a statement last night:

“The administration at Neshaminy School District is conducting a thorough review of an incident at the varsity basketball game Tuesday evening (January 5, 2016) involving coach Jerry Devine and a referee. Appropriate action was taken at the game following that incident, and further measures may follow depending on the outcome of that review. As this is a personnel matter, we will not be able to comment on the specifics of any possible disciplinary action until that review process is complete.”

“Mr. Devine has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of that review for both his teaching and coaching positions. The athletic program at Neshaminy places the values of fair play and sportsmanlike conduct above all. We expect our coaches and staff to teach and uphold those principles, while acting in a professional manner at all times.”