High School Basketball Coach Arrested After Attacking Referee Over Foul Call
A Connecticut high school girls basketball coach was arrested after allegedly tripping and choking a referee during a youth league game over a foul call last week.
Thomas Sparks, 37, resigned as the Staples High School coach after allegedly calling a referee a “dickhead” and choking him during the Oct. 24 game, the CT Post reported.
Sparks was coaching a team in the Connecticut Elite youth basketball league in Shelton when he reportedly confronted the referee over what he believed was an improper foul call, according to the publication, which cited a police report.
The disagreement began as a heated verbal exchange before the confrontation turned physical.
Sparks allegedly tripped the referee and pushed him to the floor.
As the referee tried to get back up, Sparks allegedly wrapped an arm around his neck.
Spectators quickly intervened, and Sparks was removed from the building.
The referee later went to a police station and filed a report.
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Sparks told investigators that he became physical because he was unsure how the referee would respond after their heated exchange, the CT Post reported, citing the police report.
Police said witnesses at the game, including several players, supported the referee’s account.
Sparks was arrested that day and charged with assault, strangulation and risk of injury to a child, according to the local outlet.
Several days after his arrest, Sparks resigned from his coaching position at the Westport high school on Thursday.
“Tommy resigned for personal and family considerations,” the Staples High School athletic director confirmed to the CT Post.
Sparks also no longer works for Connecticut Elite, organization officials told the outlet, declining to comment further.
He was released on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 12.
The Post contacted the Shelton Police Department, the Staples High School athletics department and Connecticut Elite for comment.
