Shoreham-Wading River football coach 'removed' amid investigation, district says
Shoreham-Wading River High School's varsity football head coach Aden Smith during a game on Sept. 28, 2018. Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Shoreham-Wading River High School varsity football coach Aden Smith has been “removed” from his position while the district investigates an incident during a scrimmage against Islip on Aug 30, Superintendent Gerard Poole said.
“The district is currently investigating an incident involving the varsity football team’s head coach,” Poole said in a statement. “The incident took place during a scrimmage against Islip on Aug. 30, 2019. While this investigation is underway, the head coach has been removed and the current assistant coaches will be leading the team.”
The superintendent did not provide details about the nature of the incident. Islip Schools Superintendent Ellen Semel said in a statement that a "brief scuffle took place among several players" and that the school was investigating.
Smith, a teacher in the Longwood district, did not return messages seeking comment. Islip football coach Jamie Lynch declined to comment.
"Longwood Central School District has been made aware of the allegation but cannot comment on personnel matters currently under investigation," Longwood spokeswoman Pam Donovan said.
Shoreham-Wading River opened its season Friday night at home against Bayport-Blue Point. Smith was beginning his second year as coach at Shoreham-Wading River, which is the top seed in Suffolk Division IV after winning the division last year.
High school sports in Suffolk County are overseen by Section XI. Its executive director, Tom Combs, said there were no reports filed with his office about incidents that occurred during that scrimmage. He also said there were no officials assigned to the scrimmage.
Jim Baumbach is an award-winning investigative reporter at Newsday, where he has worked since 1998. He spent two decades in the sports department, where he covered every professional team and league, including events such as the Super Bowl and World Series.
