Coach attacked in a gym full of kids

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A youth basketball game in Springfield turns violent. The Catholic Youth Organization held the basketball finals Friday night.

It should have been an exciting time, but instead it was scary.

After the game, one man was so angry that one team lost, he allegedly attacked the coach of the winning team.

According to Sgt. John Delaney it was the assistant coach of the losing team who bit the winning team's coach's ear .

The basketball game was going on at the Holy Name gymnasium, it was between two fifth and sixth grade basketball teams and what happened at the end of the game people say it was shocking.

“The guy attacked him and then it was a free for all, it was nuts,” said Steve Moccio who witnessed the fight. 

Moccio was waiting for the next game and had to block his team from seeing what came next. 

The attacker bit off part of the coach’s ear.

“It doesn't result in this and especially in front of a gym filled with kids,” said Moccio.

Many parents are upset that someone would do this, especially during a kids basketball game.

“It's all about having fun, enjoying yourself, watching your sons play or daughters play ball and just have a good time and people just don't know how to stay out of it and just let them have fun,” said Kirk Williams of Chicopee.

“It's sending the absolute wrong message when you don't have your way, violence isn't the answer, shake the kid's hand, move on, shake the other coach's hand whether you like him or not, whether you think he coached the wrong way or not,” said Moccio.

After witnessing the attack, though, Moccio said his team played with more sportsmanship than he had ever seen.

Springfield Diocese Spokesman Mark Dupont said these teams were not affiliated with Holy Name or the Diocese.

Springfield Police Captain William Collins told 22News an arrest hasn't been made yet but the detectives know the identity of the person they're looking for.