Assault on Coach Stuns Colleagues

High school football coaches throughout the Southland reacted with shock and dismay this week upon learning of an alleged postgame assault that was waged upon South Torrance Coach Brett Peabody by members of a player’s family.

“It’s totally unbelievable,” Corona Centennial Coach Matt Logan said.

“Sometimes you think you’ve seen it all, and then it reaches a new low,” Lakewood Mayfair Coach Mike Fitch said.

John Martinez Sr., 34, and his brother, Anthony Martinez, 23, both of Lomita, were arrested after the incident that occurred about 10 minutes after South Torrance’s 24-21 loss at North Torrance on Friday.

John Martinez’s son, John Jr., is a senior running back and linebacker for South Torrance. John Jr. gained more than 1,000 yards last season, but his offensive role had been diminished by the presence of a talented sophomore.

The elder Martinez was reportedly angry that his son had only three carries in the loss Friday night and allegedly confronted Peabody as the coach walked across the field.

According to police, after a short conversation between the men, Martinez, without provocation, hit Peabody from behind and knocked him to the ground where he was also struck by Anthony Martinez.

Peabody sustained several blows but was not seriously injured, according to police. Chad Nammack, a South Torrance assistant who tried to aid Peabody, suffered a black eye.

Torrance police booked the Martinez brothers on suspicion of misdemeanor battery and released them. A Torrance police spokesman said detectives are continuing their investigation and more serious charges could be filed.

“It’s very open-ended right now,” Sgt. Kevin Kreager said. “There is a probability that more charges might be brought. We’re not closing the door on anything.”

Neither Peabody nor Martinez could be reached for comment.

Peabody is expected to be on the sideline for South Torrance’s home game Friday against Compton Centennial. John Martinez Jr., who quit Monday, has decided to rejoin the team and is expected to be in uniform.

In a written statement, Arnold Plank, superintendent of the Torrance Unified School District, said the district is taking this misconduct “very seriously”: “Anyone who attacks a coach, or any school employee, is committing a very serious offense. This type of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. . . .

“Fortunately, this is an isolated incident for our district. Our parents are generally very supportive of the coaches and students.”

Most coaches said that the overwhelming majority of parents at their schools are also supportive.

“There is just no excuse for a father to do that--I don’t care what it was that made him angry,” Franklin Coach Armando Gonzalez said.