LOUISVILLE, Ky. 鈥?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. The 15-year-old Gilpin 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.
http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_11534鈥?/a>|||Here's the problem I have. As a coach, you have to be aware of conditions surrounding your young athletes. These are really children at 15 who strive to do what is asked of them. Many high school kids don't want to look like they aren't keeping up.
Now you have a kid who is dehydrated to the point of collapse and later death. How can you not know that in these conditions hydration is of optimal importance? I've heard stories in my own town of coaches pushing kids so hard they are vomiting on the field. A child died at a high school 20 miles from me died on the football field from heat exhaustion.
I think this falls under the same category as vehicular manslaughter. It's accidental, but it is reckless. I'm going to agree with reckless homicide, but when I think if it was my own son, I'd be inclined to say murder. It's such a tough call. It's a lose/lose situation no matter how you look at it.|||sports is our god in this country----when its 100 degrees and im outside for longer than 5 minutes im next to a pool----and on the other extreme in 1982 it was minus -80 degree windchill in cincinnati at the NFL playoff game to go to the super bowl----and people paid to be there----we are sick !!!!
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|||If there is evidence that the player complaint that he couldn't take it anymore, but the coach ignored him, then yes. But if the coach thought that the player could still take it and the player kept his mouth shut, then maybe no.|||Sure?|||I will wait to hear the other side of the story.|||Based on what I just read, he shouldn't be charged at all.|||absoutely not. Ive been arrested an sent to prison for something I DID NOT do about 8 years ago. Since then I have absolutely no respect for the law. After you go thru the system an see how it works, its a complete joke. Daily on tv you see stories of men that are released after doing 20 years for rape that they did not do. DNA clears them an the jail pretty much gives you a "sorry about that" an sends you on your way.|||I live in Phoenix and the High Schools start practicing in August when its 115 degrees outside. Our coaches are on their players to stay hydrated as I'm sure most coashes nationwide would be.
I'm thinking if the kids temp got all the way up to 107 there is something else going on inside the body that is pushing his temp so high.
I do not think the coach should be charged. He had no way of knowing this could happen. If the kid wasn't staying hydrated or started feeling off he should have removed himself from the feild.|||well he should be charged with neglect as for his death it was unfortunate that it happened...
a few things i didn't se in the article i read in any papers was it a full pad practice with that high of index? if it was then yes it could be contributing factor
was water denied to the player|||It depends... how hard did the coach push the kid? I mean... it could have been one of those freak of nature things that just happens without a good explanation...
However, the coach might have just pushed the kid way too hard without giving him a break... if that's the case, then I think he's liable to get charged with reckless homicide and whatever else the article stated.|||Everyone says they want to hear other side.???..WELL, the other side is dead because this GO AT ALL COSTS DUMB *** COACH pushed this KID to the limits!!! I played football and had the same type of a...hole coach and felt at times I would die and probably was close to it...I know the type. You parents are just as much at fault too for pushing your kids to go for the top of any type competition. Amazing how stupid most Americans are.|||I would have to know how long the players were out there,and how many water breaks they had.These are just children you have to be very careful with them.This case will set a precedent in the way coaches hold their practices in hot weather in the future.|||When I watched the news they said that the Coach wasn't required to cancel practice unless it reached 104 degrees and he was on some medication for ADHD that can dehydrate you. It's hard to determine right away if anyone is to blame because the whole story has not been told from both sides. Also when you sign up to play sports like that you have to sign waivers in-case you get injured or anything so that will get taken into consideration. I also wonder if the coach was letting them take regular water breaks, did the boy let it be know that he wasn't feeling well, had any of his team members noticed he wasn't feeling too well and did not say anything, and what did the coach do that the five assistant coaches didn't. It's a sad situation. I feel sorry for the boy's family and the coach's family. Hopefully this never happens again.|||If anyone is going to be charged then, why not the 5 assistant coaches also. A football team is a lot of people to keep track of. It's possible this player was more susceptible to heat injury than others. I wonder if there are safety standards in place when it comes to temperature and/or hydration, that were not followed.|||well if the player said he couldnt go and needed water then yes but if he player didnt sayanything then no because the coach had no idea, you'd be suprised how often this happens but guys i gotta tell yall a heat index of only 94 isnt that bad, ive praticed in weather that was 97 in Mississippi so i guessin the index was around 102 or so, but if we need water all we have to do is ask and the coach will let u, coaches arnt as ingnorant as in previous years, they know better|||This is the reason why all high school sports should have a certified athletic trainer at all practices. This to me is a failure of the counties hiring practices not the coach(es). A certified athletic trainer would have never allowed this to happen.
Having said that unfortunately sometimes these things happen. I can not remember the name of the player but this happened to a player that the Redskins traded for about 2 seasons ago -- of course the player did not die.
A coach can not be held accountable for his players not drinking enough water during the day. And a heat index of 94 degrees is not exactly high.|||Jen, I always respect your opinion.
However, I prefer to look at all the facts before I make any judgement. I see it differing from vehicular homicide because you have to be driving the car badly to get charged..a car can kill, but football practice doesn't usually result in death. Kids vomiting a football practice is normal..everywhere.
Upon result of the investigation, including a look at the kids physical exam, the role of the other coaches..all factors, I would decide if charges are to be brought.
Hyperthermia come from excessive heat and dehyration right? Not exactly, there are other factors involved. But lets see.|||This is ridiculous...I think somewhere down the line we tend to ignore the fact that we are made to survive some pretty harsh crap. To blame a coach because a kid decided to push himself too hard (and not drink water btw) is asinine. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? If I was thirsty, I'm going to get a drink and screw what anyone says. If I CHOOSE not to drink because of what someone else said, and I died from it, then it's my fault.|||We need to know:
Full pads at practice?
State law for practicing in heat?? ( believe it is a temp much higher)
Adequate water breaks?
Childs medical condition?
Physical on file from a doctor?
As a coach myself I understand both sides to this story. Where the reckless homicide charge would be valid is if the coach did not allow adequate water breaks or if it is determined he did not have his players best interest at heart.
Young athletes will sometimes push themselves too hard and it is the coaches job to make them take breaks. However, it is a fine line between a player who is "huffing and puffing" and one who is truly exausted. In fact those who suffer from heat exhaustion usually have it come on rapidly.
I am somewhat interested to hear the facts come out. it is my opinion he will be exhonerated, but the charge alone has tarnished his image.
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