Hart Suspends Michelson Over Role in Scuffle

Hart High basketball Coach Doug Michelson has been suspended for the rest of the season and might be disciplined further for his involvement in a postgame fight Thursday night with an official, Hart Principal Laurence Strauss said Tuesday.

“We’ll be further conducting an investigation, then we’ll deal with it at that point,” Strauss said. “There were a number of people that viewed the incident and we’re trying to get written statements.”

Stan Thomas, Southern Section commissioner, said he made a recommendation to Strauss but that the office left the matter to school officials. Thomas declined to discuss the recommendation.

Hart plays at Saugus in a Southern Section wild-card playoff game tonight. Dave Munroe, the junior-varsity coach, will assume the coaching duties along with brothers Rick and Dean Herrington, the coaches of the sophomore team.

Bob Bria, the official involved, said Tuesday he will not file criminal charges against Michelson but that he is considering pursuing civil action. Bria also denied Michelson’s allegations that he exchanged obscenities then put a body block on the coach.

Bria said when he tried to leave the court after Hart’s 43-42 loss to Schurr, Michelson began “screaming insults, grabbing my arm and bumping me.”

Bria said he did not speak to Michelson until the coach blocked the entrance to the physical-education office, at which point Bria said, “Please let me in the locker room.” Bria said Michelson refused and later hit him.

“I never said a word to him and I’m willing to take a polygraph test,” said Bria, who has officiated for 17 years. “The man just lost control of himself.”

Michelson said Monday he no longer wants to comment on the incident and said he is standing by his earlier statement that Bria “put a body block on me.” Michelson also said he would abide by any actions taken.

In a report filed Monday with the Southern Section office, Bria said, “I feel the only poor judgment I made all night was not having him arrested.”