Coach Ron Aydelott. (Screengrab via YouTube)
A high school football coach in Tennessee was brutally beaten by a student, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. The coach is Riverdale High School’s Ron Aydelott. The suspect has been arrested but not named due to his age.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The student has been charged with aggravated assault. The attack happened on the morning of April 21 at the school in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Daily News Journal reports that the suspect is not a football player but somebody who wanted to try out. After the beating, the suspect surrendered to the school’s resource officer.
2. WSMV reports that Aydelott suffered significant facial injuries that require surgery. Speaking to the Daily News Journal, the school’s principal Tom Nolan said “We’re just in total shock. I don’t know how else to explain it. We’re just concerned about coach Aydelott. He will have to undergo some surgery.” The principal added that the coach was sitting at his desk when he was attacked. On Twitter, students at Riverdale say that the coach had his jaw broken.
3. Coach Aydelott has been with the school since 2006. According to his LinkedIn page, he’s also a music teacher at Riverdale. Previously, he was the football coach at Hillsboro High School in Nashville. In addition to his role as head coach, Aydelott is also the team’s Offensive Coordinator.
Coach Aydelott is a class man and had always been great in my dealings with him. Sad story and hoping for his speedy recovery.
4. In a 2003 interview, Aydelott discussed his coaching philosophy saying “First of all, I think you have to be comfortable with yourself…with what you believe.” He adds:
If a rule is going to be made, it has to be important to you in order to enforce it. If it is not important, it is just a rule that is there to be broken because you will not enforce it. I think you make the rules simple. It has to be things that you can live with.
He went on to say that he doesn’t like lazy players.
5. Prior to joining Riverdale, the school were state champions in 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2004. NCAA Division 1 football players Carson Tinker, David Spurlock, David Sumrall, Chris Mayes, Cody West, and CJ Overton, all played for Riverdale. Academically, the school is the second highest ranked in Rutherford County.
