Stoney Creek Football Coach is Fine After Being Punched By Opposing Player

Recently updated: 5:25 p.m. with additional information from the West Bloomfield School District

A Stoney Creek High School assistant football coach who was punched unconscious on the field after the varsity team's win over West Bloomfield Friday night is doing fine, a Rochester Community Schools spokesperson says.

Meanwhile, the 16-year-old West Bloomfield football player who police say was responsible for the altercation has been released to his parents pending assault and battery charges in Oakland County Probate Court.

According to a statement released by the West Bloomfield School District signed by Superintendent Gerald Hill, the student was suspended in accordance with consequences of violating district policy.

"This incident involved the actions of one student only and not the team. The remainder of the West Bloomfield Lakers football team behaved appropriately," according to the statement.

West Bloomfield athletic director Pat Watson offered no comment about any additional discipline for the student.

According to Capt. Michael Johnson, commander of the Rochester Hills substation for the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, the student approached Cougars freshman football head coach "Buzz" Zube, 66, with six seconds left in the game, at about 9:50 p.m. Friday, after a verbal disagreement between the two coaching staffs on the field. The punch knocked Zube unconscious; he was fine after being tended to by team trainers Friday night, according to a Rochester Community Schools spokesperson.

Zube is the father of varsity head coach Brad Zube and was helping to coach the varsity Cougars during the 50-28 Homecoming night win over its Oakland Activities Association Red division rivals.

According to a report on MI Prep Zone, with six seconds on the clock, Brad Zube ordered his team off the field without going through the post-game handshake line.

West Bloomfield players and coaches then walked across the field to approach the Cougars; that's when the assault occured, according to the police report.

West Bloomfield School District spokesperson Pam Zajac said that crossing the field and coming into contact with the coaching staff was necessary in order for the team to leave.

"The Stoney Creek stadium is designed so that the only way for the opposing team to exit the field is to cross the field and exit up through the student section," Zajac said. "Crossing the field and coming into contact with their coaching staff only occurred because the team was attempting to exit the field."

Johnson said that the student was arrested on the field by two school liaison officers after "attempting to blend in with his teammates" and being pointed out by witnesses. The student's parents were with him at the Rochester Police Department when he was arrested, Johnson added.

Rochester Schools released a statement explaining that an internal investigation is under way and that the school district is working with West Bloomfield administrators to find out what happened.

"If any Stoney Creek High School players or coaches are found to be at fault, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken," said the statement from the district's community relations manager, Debbi Hartman.

The loss drops West Bloomfield's overall record to 1-6 while Stoney Creek is 4-3.