Basketball Coach Accused of Using Car to Strike Parent in Heated Altercation
On Jan. 11, a girls' basketball coach in Connecticut took post-game drama to new extremes when an argument with a parent ended with the coach allegedly using his car as a battering ram. The parking lot showdown gives an all-new meaning to full-contact sports.
Fouls Off the Court
Bryan Baez-Rivera, 29, found himself facing more than just the final buzzer when tempers flared at Horace Porter School in Connecticut. According to state police, an argument with a parent spiraled into chaos after a close game. Words were exchanged, tensions rose, and things escalated to the point where Baez-Rivera reportedly got into his white sedan and drove into the parent in the parking lot.
According to police, security footage captured the shocking moment: the parent is seen running toward the car, only to step into the road and face the vehicle head-on, according to PEOPLE. Baez-Rivera allegedly didn't slow down, hitting the individual hard enough to send them tumbling over the hood before speeding away. The victim, though injured, was fortunate to escape with non-life-threatening injuries.
Who's Really at Fault?
When Baez-Rivera later called police, he had a very different story to tell. According to his account, he was being chased on foot by the parent and "multiple people" from the opposing team, according to PEOPLE. He claimed, "he was not able to avoid a collision" and fled the scene out of fear for his safety — and for the children reportedly in the car with him.
The police, however, didn't seem convinced. Baez-Rivera was arrested on charges including assault, reckless endangerment, and risk of injury to a minor. Meanwhile, the Department of Children and Families is investigating to determine whether minors in the car were endangered during the altercation.
When the Final Whistle Isn't Enough
Unfortunately, Baez-Rivera isn't the first coach to lose his cool recently; in December 2024, a New York basketball coach was arrested after allegedly punching a referee during a tournament in Pennsylvania. While sportsmanship is a key pillar of youth sports, these incidents seem to highlight a disturbing trend: adults behaving badly while kids are trying to play ball.
It's not clear yet what triggered the verbal sparring between Baez-Rivera and the parent, but it's safe to say the post-game talk went far beyond coaching tips. This is the kind of drama that makes you wonder: are we all taking youth sports just a little too seriously?
References: Girls' Basketball Coach Arrested After Allegedly Driving into Victim with Car Following Argument About Game | Conn. youth basketball coach accused of ramming car into opposing team parent after heated argument
