Kentucky coach charged in player's death

[KFDM COOP]

Kentucky coach charged in player's death

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A Kentucky high school football coach was charged Thursday with reckless homicide in the death of one of his players who collapsed at practice on a hot day.

A grand jury indicted David Jason Stinson in the death of Pleasure Ridge Park offensive lineman Max Gilpin. Stinson was directing practice on Aug. 20, when the heat index reached 94 degrees in Louisville, where the school is located.

Gilpin, 15, collapsed and had trouble breathing. When the sophomore reached Kosair Children's Hospital, he had a temperature of 107 degrees and died there three days later.

The reckless homicide charge means grand jurors didn't find that Stinson's actions were intentional or malicious, said Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney Dave Stengel. However, Stengel said, "a reasonable man should have realized something like this could have occurred."

Stinson's attorney, Alex Dathorne, told The Associated Press that the coach maintains his innocence and looks forward to "bringing out the whole story."

"We're certainly disappointed in the grand jury's decision to indict," Dathorne said.

Stengel said Stinson, who coached the whole 2008 season, will surrender Monday at his arraignment and likely will remain free pending trial.

Stengel said he reviewed the actions of five assistant coaches who were on the field that day and determined they committed no criminal act.

Lauren Roberts, a spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Public Schools, said she's aware of the indictment, but the school system had not been formally notified about the charge.

"We'll be making a determination about his status with the district," Roberts said.

Elden May, a Kentucky High School Athletic Association spokesman, declined comment.

Stinson asked to testify in front of the grand jurors but they declined to hear him, Stengel said. The grand jury heard only from a Louisville Metro Police detective.

Gilpin's parents, Glenna Michele Crockett and Jeffrey Dean Gilpin, sued Stinson and the five assistant coaches in state court, accusing them of negligence and "reckless disregard."

Along with the lawsuit and criminal investigation, the school system has been conducting its own investigation, which was still pending Thursday.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

[KDOSullivan]

Man! There has to be more to the story. 

[skipper]

this also happned in years back with a ST MARYS player ,but forgot the coaches name. ck this one out coop

[skipper]

it was just the heat nothen else

[KDOSullivan]

it was just the heat nothen else

If it was the heat then every coach in the South is at risk....Sounds to me like an over zealous DA.

[OldSkool97]

Man! There has to be more to the story. 

I agee..Just sounds kinda odd.  ???

[82 5A State Champs]

A blistering 94 degrees? I'm not buying it!

[raideroldtimer]

Keep in mind, our players tend to be more acclimated to this areas heat, just like players in West texas are acclimated to the heat there. I agree there is probably something more to this and that the coach isn't at fault here. The boy may have had an unknown ailment.

[82 5A State Champs]

True. Unfortunately, in these cases, most of us will never know what actually happened.

[bmckinney]

Not to sound callous, but the heat is part of the process. It is sad that the kid died and I feel for the parents, but how do you think the coaches involved feel. And now to be charged with a crime! I can't see it. Any of us that have been through 2 a days and late summer, early fall practices know the drill. As parents we know the risks involved with playing our, or our childrens sport of choice so I have a hard time with charging this coaching staff with anything, if there was no malicious intent or singling out of the kid.

[rollinac]

Not to sound callous, but the heat is part of the process. It is sad that the kid died and I feel for the parents, but how do you think the coaches involved feel. And now to be charged with a crime! I can't see it. Any of us that have been through 2 a days and late summer, early fall practices know the drill. As parents we know the risks involved with playing our, or our childrens sport of choice so I have a hard time with charging this coaching staff with anything, if there was no malicious intent or singling out of the kid.

Couldn't agree more, we all know the drill.  The kids gets physicals and medical exams to ensure they're healthy enough to play sports.  I feel for the parents that lost the child and I somehow doubt the coach wants "a kid died at my practice under my watch" on his resume'.  It's just a bad situation all around but we know these things can happen with 200,000 or so kids playing football every year.  I hope this reaches a suitable resolution and I hope to never have to hear about another incident like this.

[zeroturn]

This is very unfortunate for every one involved as mentioned we don't know all what happened the physical the kids is not detailed enough in my opinion a situation like this make coaching touchy if a kid complains he has a problem what is coach stop him from practicing or push him..tough decision in my opinion...what would you do?

[The Young Coach]

My prayers go out to this coach, his family and the players' family and teammates. 

[KDOSullivan]

My prayers go out to this coach, his family and the players' family and teammates. 

Amen...