Former Skyhawk football running backs and special teams coach DeLane Fitzgerald, 28, recently appeared before the Weakley County General Sessions Court on accounts that he assaulted and threatened bodily harm to Head Football Coach Matthew Griffin.

According to an affidavit of complaint filed by Griffin, Fitzgerald approached Griffin and his two children in a threatening manner while they were playing golf at a course in Sharon on Feb. 5.

According to Griffin, Fitzgerald spit in his face and swung at him. Griffin said in the report that he believed Fitzgerald had been drinking because he was able to see empty beer cans in Fitzgerald’s golf cart.

Fitzgerald, who used to work for Griffin, was terminated from the Skyhawk football team on Nov. 13 of last year. The official reason for Fitzgerald’s termination was cited as “unsatisfactory work performance.”

In a previous issue of The Pacer, Sports Information Director Joe Lofaro commented on Fitzgerald’s dismissal from the program. “Coach Griffin decided he wanted make a change in his staff, and that’s not unusual. Being the head coach, that’s his prerogative,” Lofaro said.

While changing coaches is not unusual, the reason for Fitzgerald’s termination may have been conduct related. The affidavit further states that behavior similar to what occurred on the golf course is why Fitzgerald was fired from his job.

The Weakley County General Sessions Court gave Fitzgerald a continuation until March 22, 2006. He was also ordered to not have any contact with Griffin. If no other problems occur during the time of the continuation, then the assault charge will be dropped.