Athlete death blamed on excessive coaching

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- A Kentucky high school football coach's decision to withhold water from his athletes the day one collapsed and died was ill-advised, witnesses say.

Brian Bale, whose daughter plays soccer for Pleasure Ridge Park High School, alleged he saw the school's football coach ridiculing athletes who asked for water during practice, The Courier-Journal newspaper in Louisville, Ky., said Wednesday.

Bale said while he understood the need to push athletes, he felt coach Jason Stinson's alleged actions last Wednesday were excessive.

That same day, 15-year-old football player Max Gilpin collapsed on the field and died three days later in the hospital of complications of heat stroke.

Witness Mary Frazier alleged she saw Stinson refuse players' water requests on Aug. 20.

"A couple of them asked for water and he went off on them," Frazier, who was watching her granddaughter play soccer at the time, told The Courier-Journal.

While Stinson had no comment on the matter, Pleasure Ridge Principal David Johnson denied the allegations that the first-year coach withheld water on the day in question.

Johnson told The Courier-Journal that the coach had allowed four students to leave the field to treat injuries, adding that water fountains were on site should athletes have needed them.