HINTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Summers County High School parent is calling for the immediate suspension and eventual termination of the school’s head baseball coach, alleging that the coach assaulted his 15-year-old son during a home game earlier this week.
The incident reportedly occurred Monday, April 14, during a game between Summers County and Oak Hill in Hinton.
According to Seth Snavely, his son was at bat when he thought he had drawn a walk. As the umpire called a strike instead, Snavely said his son paused momentarily while tossing his bat toward the dugout, which the coach interpreted as disrespectful.
“My son froze in that position for a couple seconds which angered the head coach, Odie Gibson, as he thought it was disrespectful to the official,” Snavely said.
After striking out on the next pitch, the situation escalated.
“He began screaming louder at my son and began to berate him and criticize him loudly and publicly, screaming ‘that’s what you get!’” said Snavely, who added that he tried to calm his son by telling him to shake off the call.
At that point, Snavely says Coach Gibson turned his attention to him and shouted, “Mind your business and let me handle it.”
Snavely alleges the coach then physically confronted his son.
“As my son began to walk back to the dugout, the coach grabbed him by the shirt up near his chest and shoulder, twisted his clothing and pulled my son to him in an aggressive manner as if he was going to beat him up,” Snavely said.
“Coach Gibson then proceeded to shove my son to home plate, stating ‘we’ll fix this now,’ insinuating he was going to make my son apologize to the umpire.”
Snavely says he only intervened after the coach put his hands on his son.
“I then spoke up and advised him to take his hands off of my son or I was going to put my hands on him,” he said. “The coach then told me, ‘OK, let’s do it,’ and proceeded to walk toward the gate in an attempt to fight me.”
The confrontation was interrupted by an off-duty Hinton police officer, who stepped in and separated the two men.
“This is an adult, probably 265 pounds, largely overweight, and my son is 15 and weighs 110 pounds,” Snavely said. “He was scared and afraid he was getting ready to be punched or who knows what.”
Snavely said the incident occurred in full view of Summers County High School Principal Dr. Kevin Green and Board of Education President Greg Angell. He said Dr. Green told him he would investigate and follow up the next day.
On Tuesday, April 15, Snavely said he received a call from Dr. Green and Assistant Principal Miss Stephanie Cochran, who informed him that the school is investigating the matter.
Snavely said he demanded the coach be suspended immediately and fired at the next board meeting.
When reached Thursday morning, Summers County Schools Interim Superintendent Linda Knott confirmed that a complaint had been filed.
“There has been an incident reported, and we are investigating the complaint,” Knott told LOOTPRESS. “I cannot share personnel information.”
