A high school wrestling coach in New Jersey has stepped down under scorn and scandal after he was found in a car with an open containers of alcohol and students from the school where he worked.
As reported by NJ.com, Pennsville Memorial wrestling coach Kenneth Emmons resigned from his position in early May, though his departure was only confirmed in the past week. The 23-year-old Emmons — who served as a substitute teacher in addition to his role as the wrestling coach — was found in a car after 3 a.m. with an open Coors Light and a sealed beer of the same make in the rear passenger seat. He was riding as a passenger of a car driven by a Pennsville Memorial student, with another Pennsville Memorial student riding along in the rear seat.
Neither teen traveling with Emmons was cited for any wrongdoing, primarily because they didn’t officially do anything wrong. That wasn’t true for Emmons, who was charged with possession of an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. The very fact that Emmons was charged with a criminal offense ensured he wouldn’t be able to continue at Memorial, as the school has a policy which mandates any substitute teachers accused of a criminal offense either retire, resign or be removed from their roles.
Despite his relative youth, Emmons had emerged as a popular and successful coach at Memorial, leading his squad to an 18-5 dual meet record and co-champion honors from the Tri-County Conference Classic Division.
Emmons refused to speak to NJ.com about the incident or his departure, but did confirm he had resigned from his role.
Many will now question whether Emmons will be able to return to high school coaching anytime soon. His first season proved that he can mold talent. As it turns out, that likely made his behavior away from campus walls far too concerning for officials to overlook.