IHSAA comments on New Castle coach controversy - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

NEW CASTLE - The conduct of the New Castle High School basketball coach has been called into question, but state sports officials are not investigating it. Eyewitness News went to the Indiana High School Athletic Association to ask why.

Home video shows Coach Steve Bennett apparently hitting one of his players in the stomach at a game last December. The video only came to light recently. Bryant McIntosh's parents say it was a terrifying moment for them and their son, and are outraged that the school did not take any disciplinary action against the coach. The school district will not comment.

"Basketball is an emotional game and we all know that coaches are emotional in a variety of manners and they express their emotions in various ways. This particular situation has become offensive to the family and they have taken exception to how the school corporation has responded to the situation," said IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox.

According to Shelly and Scott McIntosh, the school's response has amounted to nothing. When an event like this occurs, the school and the parents both have the IHSAA to turn to for help. In this case neither the school nor the parents contacted the IHSAA for a review.

Policing of coaches and player conduct is a local school issue, according to Cox.

"What I'm saying is these kinds of controversies are the things that cause communities and schools and administrations to stop and look at their protocols to try and determine what they are doing is appropriate," said Cox.

Eyewitness News has made several attempts to speak to Coach Bennett, the superintendent and the school board. We have been told it is a personnel issue and they are not talking about the incident. They would also not comment on whether or not the school has amended any of their policies concerning coach and player conduct.

In the eyes of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, the issue should serve as a benchmark for other schools in measuring what is acceptable behavior for coaches.