Paramus Catholic Coach Suspended After Fighting With Football Players

PARAMUS, NJ — A Paramus Catholic High School football coach has been suspended after he got involved in a fight between four football players, including his son, at the school Oct. 6.

Police were dispatched to the school at 5:24 p.m. about a fight in process between four juveniles, two 17-year-olds and two 14-year-olds.

According to the police report, an individual named "D.H." started to pull on "J.H.'s" football jersey and the two got into an altercation.

Teacher Josh Tedeschi was in the hallway and tried to intervene and separate them, but the boys ended up outside and several students, including "J.C." and "M.M." ended up in the altercation, the report states.

Michael Mitchell, "M.M.'s" father and one the Paladins' coaches, got involved in the fight, which was broken up at 5:27 p.m., according to the police report. The report stated that "M.M.'s" face was visibly swollen.

Head football coach Dan Sabella reported the incident to police at about 9:30 p.m. Oct. 6, the police report shows.

Mitchell said in an NJ.com report that top recruit Dorian Hardy started the fight and hit his son to the point where he is now in the hospital. Another senior — Jonathan Clark — was also involved in the fight, according to the report.

Mitchell said Hardy punched his son, Miles, at least twice during the fight. His son was diagnosed with a concussion; he suffered a seizure in class and was taken to Valley Hospital, according to the report.

Jim Goodness, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Newark said in a statement Friday that Mitchell has been suspended from his position with the school and that everyone involved in the fight was required to leave campus after it occurred. Goodness did not release the names of the individuals involved in the altercation in the statement.

Goodness said the school has taken "all necessary steps to address the incident appropriately according to our policies and protocols, and in cooperation with local authorities."

Goodness said school administrators are working with authorities "as to the truth of the matter is determined" and address individual disciplinary issues directly.

Goodness also said that any "individuals who required medical attention at the time of the incident received it immediately."

Paramus Catholic Principal Stephanie Macaluso could not immediately be reached for comment Friday via phone.

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