Mater Dei Will Reinstate Soccer Coach, Players

Mater Dei High School will reinstate varsity boys’ soccer Coach John O’Neil, who was suspended after some of his players drank alcohol at a team outing, school officials said Friday. O’Neil and the suspended players will be reinstated Monday.

“Coach John O’Neil was suspended during the course of the investigation,” Athletic Director Gary McKnight said, reading from a prepared statement. “After careful review of all the facts, he will be reinstated as head coach effective Monday.”

O’Neil was not available for comment Friday.

The students involved were suspended from school Monday and Tuesday while their parents met with school officials who reviewed the case, said McKnight. He would not divulge the number of players involved.

The players returned to classes Wednesday, but will not be allowed to play until Monday and can’t start until after Christmas, McKnight said.

O’Neil, a first-year walk-on coach, and several varsity players were suspended Dec. 9 when McKnight said the school began investigating O’Neil’s report that some of the athletes drank alcohol at a team retreat in Big Bear the weekend of Dec. 3.

O’Neil chaperoned the retreat but said no drinking went on in front of him.

Baseball Coach Bob Ickes was appointed interim soccer coach during the suspension. He will continue to serve as the coordinator of the program, McKnight said.

“We just felt that with a high-profile program and a major sport that we need somebody on campus to help the walk-on coach with the overall coordination of the program,” McKnight said.

A team comprising the junior varsity, three varsity players who attended the retreat but were not disciplined and three varsity athletes who did not attend the retreat has been competing as Mater Dei’s varsity during the suspension.