Princeton University Lacrosse Coach Fired After Elbowing Opposing Player During Game

Princeton, NJ -- Princeton University men’s lacrosse coach Chris Bates has been fired after he elbowed an opposing player who was coming off the field during a game at Brown University on Saturday, according to an Associated Press report on philly.com.

Bates has said “there’s more context to the story than what appears in a 5 second clip,” according to the report.

Offensive coordinator Matt Madalon will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the season, and Princeton will conduct a national search for a full-time replacement, according to the report.

The incident occurred early in the third-period, when Brown midfielder John Yozzo-Scaperrotta collided with Princeton midfielder Austin deButts, according to Lacrosse Magazine.

Yozzo-Scaperrotta was running off the field after falling down when Bates stuck his elbow out and hit him.

Bates was initially put on on leave pending a review of the incident, according to nj.com.

Bates was 53-42 during his seven-year career at Princeton, and led the team to Ivy League championships in 2010, 2012 and 2015, according to Planet Princeton. The Tigers also appeared in the NCAA tournament in 2010 and 2012,and had 19 all-Americans and 16 first-team all-conference selections during Bates’s tenure.

Madalon will make his coaching debut Saturday against Stony Brook.

He’s a former Major League Lacrosse goalie and a member of the Roanoke College Hall of Fame, according to nj.com.