Last week, a high school basketball game between Richlands and Wise Central in Virginia turned violent when Richlands coach Tom Rife lost his cool and climbed into the stands to grab and shove a fan who had allegedly said something to him with the fight video viral
The incident was caught on video, and now Tazewell County Public Schools will look into the coach. The game took place on February 23, and it looked like it was going to be a close one. In the end, Wise Central won 54-51. But when Tom Rife went after a man behind his team’s bench at the end of the game, that was when the real action started.
When the game was shown on TV, the person in the white T-shirt said things to Tom Rife that made the coach angry. Rife then jumped over some chairs and wrapped his hands around the man’s shirt. Later, he seemed to push him over and over again while calling for help.
Tom Rife Virginia Girls high school basketball grabs and shoves fan in stands, video of fight goes viral
Good ole boy network fired coach who was amazing & had the emotional intelligence to control themselves to the bare minimum we expect of our student athletes, & replaced him with this. Our girls deserve better. I expect the immediate termination of head coach Tom Rife. pic.twitter.com/dBpZAkRLms
— @TheFearlessQueen (@QueenOfManLand) February 24, 2023
Eventually, several people took Rife away from the man, and the game went on. But the event was noticed, and the next day, Dr. Christopher Stacy from Tazewell County Public Schools said an investigation would be done.
“While we do not condone any misconduct from our coaches or spectators, at this time, we are still investigating the actions of all parties involved,” Stacy said in the statement.
When the coach has had enough of daddy ball. pic.twitter.com/v4bo5jv6Nh
— Chad Baker (@ChadBlue83) February 26, 2023
Many people in the area are upset and worried about what happened with Tom Rife. Especially since it involved a high school coach and a fan. No matter what people say, one local parent said, “We can’t have that in our high school games.” “We need to stay calm and do things in a professional way.”
As the investigation is still going on, it is still unclear what consequences Rife may have to face because of what he did. But this isn’t the first time Rife has gotten into trouble.
Reports say that Tom Rife was seen arguing with a referee. And throwing his jacket onto the court during a game last year. Some people have also said that Rife has a history of bad sportsmanship and verbal abuse.
Many support Tom Rife over the viral video
Even so, some people have defended Tom Rife by saying that he loves the game and cares about his team. One former player said, “He’s a good coach, and he cares about the kids.” “But sometimes he lets his feelings take over.”
No matter what people think about the situation, it’s clear that it has started a conversation about sportsmanship. And how important it is to keep your cool in high-stakes situations. As the investigation goes on, many people are hoping for a solution. That will help the community heal and come together.
To know more about Tom Rife, do follow The SportsGrail on a regular and frequent basis.
ALSO READ: Is Buster Murdaugh gay, was Stephen Smith his boyfriend and who is his girlfriend