:: SportsSafety.org/Press Corner/
KY Player Death
Author: Zackery Moore
Outcome of Ky. coach’s trial will affect Ala. coaches
Former Ky. high school coach faces homicide charges
LOUISEVILLE, Ky. – Former Pleasure Ridge Park coach David Jason Stinson faces wanton endangerment and reckless homicide charges in the death of 15-year-old Max Gilpin. Gilpin collapsed during practice and died three days later with a body temperature of 107° last August.
Consequences of this case could set a precedent for future cases against coaches where a player dies during practices or games. “This case affects every coach, both legally and personally,” says Matthew Lemak, executive director of National Center for Sports Safety (NCSS).
One supporter of Stinson setup a website to raise money for Stinson’s legal defense. Coaches’ organizations from around the US have donated nearly $90,000, reports the Associated Press.
According to Lemak this is the first case where a coach is being prosecuted for a player’s death.
Lemak has been involved in this case since February when the Kentucky Legislature began hearing testimony for HB 383, legislation focused on protection of Kentucky Athletes. Last March Lemak testified in front of a Kentucky senate panel about the importance of mandatory safety training for coaches with University of Kentucky Head Coach, Rich Brooks.
Lemak says, “We’ve worked with high school athletic associations in Alabama, Florida, and Kentucky which makes sports-safety training accessible for high school coaches.”
About NCSS
Dr. Lawrence Lemak founded the National Center for Sports Safety in 2001 to promote the importance of injury prevention and safety on all levels of youth sports through education and research. The NCSS focuses on decreasing the number and intensity of injuries through developing and teaching sports-safety courses. NCSS also collects, analyzes and researches injury data to improve safety practices.
About Dr. Lemak
Dr. Lemak is a world renowned Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgeon, and is Medical Director for Major League Soccer, LPGA, PGA, the former NFL Europe League, and several colleges and high schools in central Alabama, in addition to national physical therapy provider Physiotherapy Corporation. He is also the Medical Director of the Alabama High School Athletic Association.
