Charges withdrawn from Gannon coaches
January 25, 2012
Charges were withdrawn from two Gannon University assistant football coaches after the pair received non-traffic violations for their roles in what police called a fight outside of the Boardwalk Complex on Oct. 16, 2011.
The violations were withdrawn Nov. 7, 2011, more than one month before Michael Smith and Darren Paige’s scheduled court date on Dec. 19, 2011.
According to authorities, Smith, 29, and Paige 27, were cited for disorderly conduct after engaging in a fight with former Gannon player Kendall Brown. Smith and Paige were teammates at Miami (Ohio) University in 2003. Police said that as officers attempted to break up the fight, Brown continued fighting and struck an Erie police officer.
Brown is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 30 for disorderly conduct, harassment and public drunkenness.
The former wide receiver caught 14 passes for 143 yards before he wrapped up his playing career in 2010. Brown was still enrolled as a student at Gannon last semester.
According to Dan Teliski, sports information director, the coaches, who faced the possibility of fines, were punished by the University after it completed its own investigation. However, because of privacy rights, the specific disciplinary actions were not revealed.
Jim Kiernan, who confirmed that both coaches would return next season, said the fight and subsequent legal actions have become a non-issue.
“It’s over for the team,” he said. “We’ve moved passed that.”
