Neshaminy High School coach dismissed after physical confrontation with referee

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Wednesday, January 27, 2016
VIDEO: Neshaminy basketball coach dismissed
The school board voted to dismiss Neshaminy High School basketball coach Jerry Devine of his coaching duties this school year.

MIDDLETOWN TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- The Neshaminy High School basketball coach placed on administrative leave after a physical confrontation with a referee has been dismissed from his coaching duties.

The Neshaminy School Board made the decision at Tuesday night's meeting.

Jerry Devine remains a special education teacher at the school. He has been charged with a summary harassment offense in connection with the confrontation.

Neshaminy High School teacher Jerry Devine is returning to his teaching position at the high school effective immediately.

The Jan. 5 incident happened with less than a minute in the game between Neshaminy High School and Pennsbury High School.

Two separate videos provide two angles.

Both show Neshaminy head coach Jerry Devine making physical contact with one of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) officials after an offensive foul call, and the referee falling to the ground.

One video obtained by Action News courtesy of cityofbasketballlove.com shows the incident from a relatively close angle.

New video obtained by Action News Wednesday morning courtesy of cityofbasketballlove.com shows the incident from a closer angle.

Some called it a head butt, others a chest bump.

Action News obtained another video of the game through radio station WBCB 1490 AM.

Devine was ejected from the game after the incident happened. The referee got up off the floor and finished the final moments of the game.

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Videos courtesy of WBCB 1490 AM and cityofbasketballlove.com.