Ringgold names interim baseball coach
Ringgold High School’s baseball season will continue in the wake of allegations of hazing and other misconduct on a trip to Florida last month.
Athletic director Laura Grimm confirmed Wednesday that Ron Roberts has been hired as the interim head coach after Jim Coulter resigned last week in light of of the allegations.
Team members reportedly participated in hazing incidents and were given alcohol and tobacco during the trip to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.
Per Grimm, an investigation into the incident revealed, and it has been determined, there was misconduct during the trip by several members of the team.
“The school district is in the process of imposing appropriate discipline to the individuals involved in these regrettable matters,” Grimm stated in a press release.
The incident has caused the Rams to postpone three games: a non-section game last Friday at West Allegheny and two Section 3-AAAA games, Monday at West Mifflin and Wednesday at home against Keystone Oaks. Ringgold went 3-0 during its trip to Orlando.
The team resumed practices Wednesday and is expected to play its next section game Friday at Uniontown.
Coulter had been an assistant with the program before taking over as head coach this year.
He is the fourth area baseball or softball coach to either be fired, suspended or resign in the past six years over something that happened during a trip south to play games.