Grundy County suspends head football coach for a week

photo Grundy head coach Nick Bryant.
Arkansas-Memphis Live Blog

Grundy County High School has suspended head football coach Nick Bryant for this week after being notified of an issue with a player during halftime of last Friday's game.

"The athletic committee has determined the school's code of conduct was violated, so Nick Bryant has been suspended for all activities for September 16-20, including practice and this Friday's game (at Signal Mountain)," Grundy County director of schools Jody Hargis said.

According to the parent of one player, Coach Bryant kicked a garbage can as he entered the locker room at halftime of last week's loss to Silverdale Baptist Academy. The garbage can struck a player in the face but did not injure him.

The loss to Silverdale dropped Grundy County's record to 1-3 this season.

"I won't comment on specifics from last Friday, but no players were injured and there was no intent by any coach to injure a player," Hargis said. "The suspension isn't over just one incident. There were several issues we felt we needed to discuss with Coach Bryant, but this last incident let us know we needed to nip it right now.

"I know he's young and there's a lot of frustration with the team right now and morale is low. But Coach Bryant has to understand he has to follow our code of conduct because we expect our coaches to lead by example. We hold our coaches to a higher standard."

Coach Bryant did not return phone messages for comment.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.

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