Kentucky HS football coach charged with death of player

[J.T.]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky high school football coach was charged Thursday with reckless homicide in the death of a player who collapsed during a sweltering practice in a rare criminal case against a coach in a heat death.

A grand jury indicted David Jason Stinson in the death of Pleasure Ridge Park offensive lineman Max Gilpin. Stinson, in his first year as head coach at the Louisville school, was directing practice on Aug. 20 when the heat index reached 94 degrees and the 15-year-old sop re collapsed and had trouble breathing.

The player had a temperature of 107 degrees when he arrived at the hospital, authorities said, and died three days later. No autopsy was performed, but it appeared Gilpin died from complications from heat stroke, according to the coroner's office.

Assistant coach Steve Deacon called 911 and told a dispatcher that Gilpin was semiconscious and that his father was nearby, according to a transcript of the call.

"He's just overheated ... and we've got water on him ... he's responsive and he's got a big rapid pulse but ..." Deacon said. "... He keeps going ... yeah he's awake ... we're trying to get him to open his eyes right now ... he's got a rapid pulse."

In the background, someone is urging Gilpin: "Come on get them eyes open ... keep them eyes open ... there you go ... get them eyes all the way up ... get them eyes open ... there you go."

Heat exposure deaths happen occasionally in all levels of football, with the most famous example being Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Korey Stringer in 2001. The cases have led to numerous lawsuits, however, no evidence can be found that a coach has ever been charged in the deaths.

The reckless homicide charge means grand jurors didn't find that Stinson's actions intentional or malicious, said Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney Dave Stengel, but that "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.

Stinson spent his first three years at Pleasure Ridge Park as an assistant football coach, before taking over last season and going 4-4. A school spokeswoman says he has been reassigned pending the outcome of the case. Stinson will surrender Monday at his arraignment and likely will remain free pending trial, Stengel said.

Attorneys representing Gilpin's divorced parents, Michele Crockett and Jeff Gilpin, said in a statement that the school system and high school haven't provided information on the player's death to the family.

"But what we have learned about the coaches' conduct at the football practice that led to Max's collapse and death is inexcusable, as was the lack of urgency and the delay in seeking medical treatment after Max collapsed and never regained consciousness," the statement from attorneys Todd Thompson and Mike Cooper said.

Gilpin's parents sued Stinson and five assistant coaches in state court accusing them of negligence and "reckless disregard." The five assistants were not charged in the indictment, and Stengel said they didn't commit a crime.

From 1960 through 2007, there were 114 heat stroke cases that resulted in death on all levels of football from sandlot to the pros, according to a report compiled by Dr. Frederick Mueller at the University of North Carolina for the American Football Coaches Association in February 2008.

From 2003-07, he attributed 16 deaths to heat stroke, and both cases in 2007 were in high school. A report on the past season wasn't included and Mueller did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press on Thursday afternoon.

Along with the lawsuit and criminal investigation, the school system has been looking into the case, but the results have not been released.

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

[J.T.]

First, this kid's parent's for going with the "If we can't be happy, then no one can" approach. Football is a tough sport. You play it knowing it's going to tire the out of you, and that there is enormous potential for injury. This is just a really sad consequence of playing a tough sport like football.

This coach shouldn't be liable for a got damn thing unless the kid was ing and moaning about having a massive heatstroke migraine and wanted to go to the nurse and the coach told him to STFU and get back in there. Or if the kid had a medical history of being susceptible to heatstoke and the coach made him practice anyway, which looks like it isn't the case. Only thing else I could find was that the kid was prescribed to Adderall, which increases your heart rate and dehydrates the out of you... great prescription drug to be on while at football practice in 94 degree heat.

I know there's no crying in football, but kid should have said something sooner. Or blame the doctors (you have to pass a physical to play football in school) for not telling him that Adderall and football practice will work a number on his body.

If this coach is convicted, then our justice system is a joke.

[MiamiHeat]

when i played high school football, i remember throwing up on the first few days of practice. many times i felt i couldn't take anymore, but you keep pushing and you end up OK.

sometimes, certain people's bodies can't handle the pushing. it's sad, but it's rare. coach is not to blame.

[The Reckoning]

that kid was a ing pussy. 94 degrees is nothing. try two-a-days in 110 degree weather and get back to me on that.

[Dr. Gonzo]

It's really sad the kid died and I feel for his family but causing the coach's family pain by trying to send him to prison for a number of years isn't the answer here. The coach shouldn't even be liable for this. 94 degrees isn't hot. It's ing nice when it's 94 out.

[J.T.]

that kid was a ing pussy. 94 degrees is nothing. try two-a-days in 110 degree weather and get back to me on that.

Yeah, I was going to say, play football in Texas and then get back to me on whether or not you think 94 degrees is a hot day at practice. Especially in ing August.

[Clandestino]

thats what happens when you only play xbox your whole life and then you try to go outside