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Former Player Takes High School Coach To Court

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May 5, 2008 1:56 pm US/Eastern

Former Player Takes High School Coach To Court

LAWRENCE, Mass. (WBZ) ― Marblehead High School's football coach is facing a civil complaint from a student who claims the coach assaulted and intimidated him.

Timothy Morris, a 17-year-old junior, left the team last fall after playing eight games. A short time later, he and his father went to the school's athletic director to discuss coach Doug Chernovetz.

The next day, Morris alleges, Chernovetz, 40, cornered him in school and assaulted and intimidated him.

Morris hired an attorney and they filed an injunction against Chernovetz Monday in Essex Superior Court in Lawrence to keep him away from Morris.

Morris's attorney Gerard Malone said the teen has not been to school since April 8, because he now fears for his safety.

Malone claims Chernovetz is violating Morris's civil rights, because the coach is violating the teen's right to an education.

About 20 players came to court to show their support for Chernovetz Monday.

He would not comment directly about the complaint, but he was encouraged by the support of his players.

"That's part of my job, having that bond with my young men that I coach, not just on the football field, but in life as well. Those bonds carry over after they're players of mine," said Chernovetz. "That's what coaching is all about."

The players had no comment.

Judge Kathe Tuttman did not issue a ruling Monday.

According to a published report, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association suspended Chernovetz last month for allegedly using chewing tobacco in front of his players last season. He will reportedly miss the first two games of the 2008 season.

"There is a divide in the school system and in the community about this coach and his behavior," said Malone.

"There are 16 affidavits from assistant coaches who have been in the system for decades and from these football players saying what the facts are. This isn't an issue of taking sides, it's an issue of what are the facts," said Chernovetz's lawyer Sam Perkins.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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