Girls High School Basketball Coach Tom Rife Jumps Into Stands To Attack Fan During Game

Richlands High School head coach Tom Rife is going viral this week after he came into contact with a fan in the stands.

He was recorded leaping over his team’s bench to grab a fan by the shirt, and shake him violently as they both moved backward. The fan never made a move throughout that altercation.

Dr. Chris Stacy, superintendent of the Tazewell County Board of Education, made it clear that the school does not condone misconduct or behavior like that from its coaches or spectators and is currently investigating the incident.

“We are aware of the incident at the RHS basketball game and while we do not condone any misconduct from our coaches or spectators at this time we are still investigating the actions of all parties involved,” Stacy said, via the New York Post.

Those who stepped in restrained Rife.

Good ole boy network fired coach who was amazing & had the emotional intelligence to control themselves to the bare minimum we expect of our student athletes, & replaced him with this. Our girls deserve better. I expect the immediate termination of head coach Tom Rife. pic.twitter.com/dBpZAkRLms

— @TheFearlessQueen (@QueenOfManLand) February 24, 2023

Richlands lost the game 54-51.