Colville Wrestling Coach Suspended Complaints Not Related To Head-Butting Incident

FOR THE RECORD (October 10, 1997): Clarification: Colville High School wrestling coach Monty Jones’ temporary suspension in the last wrestling season was not because one of his wrestlers head-butted a referee during the previous season. The reason for the suspension has not been disclosed.

Colville High School wrestling coach Monty Jones has been suspended from his teaching position while school officials investigate complaints that could lead to his dismissal. School officials said the complaints do not spring from a January 1996 match in which one of Jones’ wrestlers head-butted a referee into unconsciousness.

The head-butting was the most serious of several incidents last year that tarnished the wrestling team’s reputation.

Administrators declined to spell out the complaints, but Business Manager Fred McCurdy said they focus on Jones’ role as a coach, rather than as an English and math teacher. “What we have are some concerns about interactions,” said Michael Cashion, director of student programs.

Superintendent Rick Cole was unavailable for comment Wednesday, but said in a prepared statement that Jones was suspended with pay Sept. 23 when “a number of official complaints” were received.

Jones did not respond to a request for comment.

He and his team gained national notoriety last year when senior Chad Hilderbrandt head-butted Spokane referee Bob West during a 190-pound match with West Valley High School junior Josh Kelp.

Hilderbrandt already had been penalized for intentionally head-butting Kelp. He apparently was angry that West penalized him for shoving a wrestler who pinned him in an earlier Frontier League match, according to court documents.

The head-butting prompted an unsuccessful effort in the Legislature to make it a felony to attack a sports official. Hilderbrandt was convicted of fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor, because of the amount of medical evidence needed to prove felony assault.

The head-butting led to a temporary suspension for Jones.

Five days after Hilderbrandt attacked West, Colville wrestler Dave Naff was disqualified for biting an opponent in another match against East Valley. Colville later was forced to relinquish its share of the Frontier League title because Naff competed in another match while disqualified.

, DataTimes