Hampton Bays wrestling coach on leave after arrest, denies charges

The head coach of the Hampton Bays High School varsity wrestling team has taken a leave from his job following his arrest on misdemeanor drug charges, officials said Thursday.

A final decision on the status of Paul Hoshyla, 52, will be made “pending the outcome of this legal matter,” Hampton Bays schools Superintendent Lars Clemensen said in a statement.

Hoshyla was arrested by Southampton Town Police Nov. 30 after a traffic stop on Flanders Road in Flanders, officials said.

Officers saw heroin in plain sight on the passenger seat and found loose prescription pills in his pocket, officials said.

He was given a summons to appear in Southampton Town Court on Dec. 21, officials said.

When reached for comment Thursday night, Hoshyla denied the charges against him, saying someone else had been in the car with him.

“I have nothing to hide, I’ve been a district employee for 17 years,” he said.

His attorney, Mariel LaSasso of Manhattan, said her client would be vindicated.

“We are very confident when all the evidence is out there we’ll be able to resolve this satisfactorily and Mr. Hoshyla will be able to put this behind him,” she said.

Hoshyla was hired as an assistant coach in 2003 and took over as head coach in 2015, the superintendent said.

Hoshyla has been put on administrative leave.

Assistant coach Mike Lloyd “is assuming the responsibilities of head coach as the wrestling season is starting to really gear up with activity at this time,” Clemensen said.

The superintendent said “the safety and well-being of our students is the top priority” of the district.

With Laura Blasey