Threats allegedly made against Moniteau coach
CHERRY TWP — The Moniteau girls basketball coach at the center of a sometimes volatile controversy over his coaching style says he’ll comment later, but for now he is getting ready to coach the boys track team.
Athletic director Zoe McDowell also said she would not comment on coach Matt Stebbins.
The controversy includes alleged death threats made against the coach.
The situation boiled over Feb. 13 when McDowell reported to high school Principal Maynard Harvey during a Moniteau home basketball game that a parent of one of the players had repeatedly threatened Stebbins.
According to a statement by McDowell, parent Robert Brehm left the gymnasium at halftime of the Feb. 13 game to speak with her about how Stebbins was treating his daughter, in particular taking her out of the game. McDowell said that during the conversation, Brehm stated, “I’ll kill him” three times, referring to Stebbins.
In a statement to the school district, Ed Newcaster, a security officer hired for the game, said he overheard the threat.
In her statement, McDowell said Harvey called state police, who escorted Brehm off school property and charged him with disorderly conduct.
On Feb. 14, the district gave written notice to Brehm that he is prohibited from coming onto district property.
This restriction continues indefinitely.
On Feb. 18, the district asked a county judge to block Brehm from attending the Feb. 20 playoff game at Union High School in Rimersburg and any subsequent playoff games involving the Moniteau girls team.
However, the team lost its first playoff game, bringing another order from Judge Marilyn Horan.
Horan on Monday continued an injunction barring Brehm from any contact with the coach or his family, either on or off school property.
Contacted this morning, Brehm declined to comment.
Brehm isn’t the only person to criticize the coach.
At Monday night’s school board meeting, one player who was injured complained that Stebbins told her to practice with the team in contradiction to her doctor’s orders.
Several parents told the board that Stebbins’ coaching style was tantamount to bullying.
At that meeting Monday, Superintendent George Svolos had no comment on the situation.
Board President Melissa DeMatteis said of Stebbins, “he’s a good man,” and declined further comment.
Eagle staff writer Laurie Lindsay and sports editor John Enrietto contributed to this report.
