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Tennessee State football player kicked off team, expelled after punching coach

By Alex Butler
Tennessee State defensive end Latrelle Lee punched Tigers strength coach T.J. Greenstone on Saturday at Hale Stadium. Photo courtesy of FootballScoop/Twitter
Tennessee State defensive end Latrelle Lee punched Tigers strength coach T.J. Greenstone on Saturday at Hale Stadium. Photo courtesy of FootballScoop/Twitter

Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Tennessee State defensive end Latrelle Lee has been kicked off the team and expelled from school after punching his own coach.

Lee threw multiple punches at Tigers strength coach T.J. Greenstone Saturday at Hale Stadium in a 23-20 with against Southeast Missouri. Video captured of the incident shows the 6 foot 2, 240 pound defender walking up behind the coach and throwing multiple punches at the back of his head.

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Greenstone eventually fell to the ground from the impact.

Lee, 22, was kicked off of the team Saturday and expelled on Monday, according to the Tennessean. He had 18 tackles and 3.5 take downs for a loss this season. He started two games for the Tigers. The senior defender had seven sacks in 27 games during his three seasons with the Tigers.

"Tennessee State has removed a student-athlete for an incident which occurred during the football team's game versus Southeast Missouri State in Hale Stadium," a university statement released to McClatchy said.

"The occurrence took place during Saturday's contest. The player was immediately dismissed from the sideline by head coach Rod Reed for improper misconduct. University officials were informed and as of 10:30 a.m. on Monday the student has been withdrawn from school."

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Tennessee State's last regular season game is on Thursday against Jacksonville State.

"We, of course, do not condone any act of violence within our department and are very disturbed by the action of one of our students," Tigers Director of Athletics Teresa Phillips told Fox 17 Nashville. "We are committed to supporting the coach who was personally affected and our concern now is with him."

Saturday was Senior Day for the Tigers. Lee was set to graduate in December. He was a criminal justice major and a member of the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll for the 2016-2017 season.

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