Incident Involving Coach and Parent at High School Football Game
WARREN, Mich. – A shocking incident took place at a high school football game on Friday night, where a coach was seen on video punching a parent on the sidelines. The altercation involved Lake Shore High School assistant coach Rob McFarlin and a parent, who confronted the coach during the game at Warren Woods Tower High School.
The video, which circulated on social media, shows players attempting to separate both men as tensions escalated. Following this incident, both McFarlin and the parent have been banned from Lake Shore High School and its events. Many parents at the school expressed mixed feelings about the situation.
Parent Shannon Smith commented, “It sounds to me that two adults didn’t make the right decisions. So just like anyone – there’s a consequence to making the wrong decision.” Meanwhile, Elizabeth Goode, another parent, mentioned, “I feel like the coach was really trying to protect the people.” Goode added that it was a concerning time for everyone, noting, “The parent came down to the field.” She stated she would stand behind the coach, even though she didn’t know him personally.
According to the school, the parent had left the stands and confronted the coach on the field. McFarlin stated in a release that he acted in defense of the students and coaching staff. He described the parent as “yelling and cursing” and said he feared for the safety of the team when the parent aggressively approached him.
However, the school principal, Janelle Bross, disagreed with the coach’s claims. She stated that eyewitness accounts indicated the coach’s actions were based more on frustration than genuine fear for safety. She emphasized, “There is no tolerance for physical aggression or violence” in their school community. Both men’s actions fell short of the expectations set for members of the community, leading to their bans.
Warren police are currently investigating the incident, and authorities are looking into the events surrounding the confrontation.
