Ex-Rumson Football Coach Investigated by Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office

Rumson, NJ - After it was revealed this week that winning Rumson head football coach Bryan Batchler would not be rehired, it has now come to light that he was under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office for a possible inappropriate relationship with a student.

No criminal charges against Batchler will be filed, acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said.

“We take very seriously any allegations of potential criminal conduct involving inappropriate relationships between educators and their students,” said Gramiccioni in a statement provided to Patch. “As is our common practice, all such allegations are thoroughly investigated and when there is sufficient evidence that a crime was committed, we proceed with the appropriate criminal charges. In instances where we do not have sufficient evidence to proceed criminally, we ensure that appropriate authorities who may be able to take administrative action against the educator are properly notified.”

“In this matter, the evidence was insufficient to support criminal charges,” he said.

Batchler case now referred to state Department of Education

“However, we referred the matter to the New Jersey Department of Education Investigations Unit for any administrative investigation or other action within their jurisdiction to conduct,” Gramiccioni added.

Batchler was placed on paid administrative leave from his coaching duties and math teaching job on Dec. 14 by the Superintendent of Rumson-Fair Haven schools Peter Righi.

When the investigation by the prosecutor’s office began, Batchler hired an attorney, Mitchell Ansell of Ansell, Grimm & Aaron. This was just nine days after he lead the Bulldogs to a state championship victory over rival Red Bank.

“Coach Batchler and I have been assisting the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and I have been in direct contact with them ever since that date,” said Ansell in a statement provided to the Asbury Park Press. “On Feb. 16, 2016, I received a letter from Thomas Fichter, Special Deputy Attorney General, Acting Assistant Prosecutor, director of Special Victims Bureau that as a result of their very thorough investigation there would be no criminal charges filed against Coach Batchler.”

Ansell blasted the Rumson superintendent for placing Batchler on leave before the prosecutor’s investigation was completed.

“Unfortunately, the Superintendent did not wait for the outcome of this investigation and advised Coach Batchler that he would not be rehired as the football coach on Dec. 23, 2015. It is extremely unfortunate that in today’s society people make rash judgments and make assumptions without the benefit of any hard evidence,” said Ansell in his statement.

Ansell told the Asbury Park Press he was not aware of any new investigation by the state Dept. of Education.

“What is most unfortunate about this decision is that the people who will suffer the most are the young men in Rumson-Fair Haven who will not have Bryan Batchler as their coach,” he said. “While he was at RFH his record was 94-29 and he was part of four state titles in the past six years.”

Jerry Schulte was named as the new RFH head football coach Monday night at a Board of Education meeting. Batchler remains on paid leave, making $66,635 a year, Righi told Patch, pending whether or not the DOE investigates. Righi said he could not say any more because it was a personnel matter.