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Bradshaw to Learn Board Ruling Today : Boys’ basketball: Embattled Simi Valley coach, subject to discipline, leaves before end of meeting.

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

Members of the Simi Valley Unified School District reached a decision Thursday regarding Simi Valley High Coach Dean Bradshaw’s possible punishment for pushing one of his players to the floor during a Jan. 14 basketball game. But they said they would not comment on it even after informing Bradshaw today.

“It is appropriate for the coach to know (the decision) before you know,” board member Doug Crosse said to reporters after the meeting adjourned.

Fellow member Judy Barry confirmed that a decision was reached, “but we can’t talk about it.”

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The special, closed-door board meeting at the district offices began at 6 p.m. and lasted an hour.

Bradshaw, with attorney Randy Sundeen in attendance, presented his side of the incident, then left 20 minutes before the meeting ended.

He and Sundeen said that no decision had been reached and that they would have no further comments.

Bradshaw could not be reached later Thursday night.

Sundeen said as he left the district offices that a written statement would be released after a decision was made. The statement is expected to come from Bradshaw or Simi Valley High officials.

“Any comments will have to come from Coach Bradshaw or (Simi Valley principal Kathryn Scroggin),” Crosse said.

Bradshaw, in his sixth season at Simi Valley, has been suspended from games and practices since the incident occurred.

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He has been accused of grabbing and subsequently throwing reserve guard Sam Rodriguez to the floor after Rodriguez was assessed a technical foul during a 51-44 victory over visiting Westlake.

Brian Saunders, a Simi Valley lawyer who coached many of the Pioneers’ current players in youth leagues, and Dave Detmer, a shop teacher at Simi Valley and the freshman girls’ basketball coach at Thousand Oaks High, have acted as co-coaches during Bradshaw’s suspension.

Assistant coaches Steve Johnson and Christian Aurand have refused to coach the Pioneers in a show of support for Bradshaw.

Simi Valley (15-5, 6-2 in Marmonte League play) is 3-0 during Bradshaw’s suspension and will play Agoura as the home team at Thousand Oaks High at 7:30 tonight.

Simi Valley’s gym was severely damaged during the Jan. 17 earthquake.

The Pioneers compiled a 90-48 record during Bradshaw’s first five seasons. They advanced to last year’s Southern Section Division I-AA championship game before losing to Long Beach Jordan, 61-59, in double overtime.

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