Middle school basketball coach resigns for game brawl caught on video

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Parents, coach fight at youth basketball game

Are adults taking youth sporting events too seriously?

The coach of a Kentucky middle school basketball team resigned last week after being involved in a brawl at a game that was caught on camera and posted on social media.

Belfry Middle School coach Bobby Varney II submitted his resignation Wednesday, his attorney said. The resignation does not affect his teaching job at the school.

Pike school board attorney Neal Smith said the video shows a referee kicking the coach’s father, Pike County Magistrate Bobby Varney, in the head.

The school board banned seven people, including two referees, from district athletic events until June 30.

Smith said the brawl started when the coach became upset with the officiating and took his team off the floor. A fan walked over and began arguing with the referees.

The game Jan. 8 was at Phelps Middle School.

None of the kids on the teams or in the stands were involved in the fight.

Lex18.com reported that the fan who began the argument was Magistrate Varney.

“It is a very unfortunate incident and I can assure you our utmost concern is the safety of our kids. We regret that this happened, but it did. The adults were obviously out of control and as a result there are gonna be some changes and sanctions,” Assistant Superintendent of Pike County schools Fred Bowling told LEX18.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.