Parent of prep charged with hitting coach

MISSOULA – The parent of an Arlee boys basketball player is charged with assaulting a sports official for allegedly punching the coach after the team’s season-ending loss at the District 8B tournament in Libby.

The incident occurred outside the locker room area following Arlee’s 63-60 loss to Superior last Friday.

Coach Brandon Hobbs said he was walking to his team’s locker room when he was “cornered” by Francis Pierre and his son, Richard, a junior who plays on both the junior varsity and varsity teams.

There were no words exchanged, Hobbs said.

“The next thing he did was just cold-cock me,” Hobbs told the Missoulian. “The last thought in my mind is that he would hit me.”

Hobbs, 27, fell back and struck his head on a door frame, causing a cut behind his ear that required two staples to close.

Francis Pierre, who is also charged with disorderly conduct, said he was protecting his son.

“He suffered from some verbal attacks that wasn’t called for,” Pierre said.

Arlee athletic director Jim Polk said school officials are still investigating. “I just don’t know everything. I’m still interviewing kids. We’re getting a mixed picture of what all happened.”

Pierre had come to team practices and questioned his son’s playing time previously, Hobbs said.

“I mean, he’s a JV player who plays varsity,” Hobbs said.

Pierre, 49, said he was provoked by what happened during the fourth quarter of the game against Superior.

Hobbs said he exchanged words with Richard Pierre, who was giving him nasty looks from the end of the bench. Hobbs said he told Richard Pierre to change his attitude or go home.