Matt Riddell, a Deering High assistant football coach, was named as the interim head coach for Friday night’s home game against Lewiston at Memorial Field.
Riddell will be filling in for Scott Parsons, the head coach who is serving a one-game suspension for an ejection after the final play of Friday night’s 13-12 loss to Massabesic.
An ejection carries an automatic one-game suspension, according to Maine Principals’ Association rules.
“(Riddell) is the interim head coach for the game while Parsons serves his MPA suspension,” said Deering Athletic Director Melanie Craig in an email.
Parsons was ejected for making an inappropriate comment to an official.
The loss dropped Deering to 0-4.
Parsons is in his first season as the head coach of the Rams.
He has been an assistant coach at Fordham University in New York, Becker College in Worcester, Mass., and St. John Fisher College in Rochester, N.Y.
Parsons graduated from Kennebunk High (2001) and Central Connecticut State (2005), where he played football.
Parsons has not returned phone messages seeking comment.
Riddell, who is in his first season on the Deering staff as a line coach, has coached in the Bonny Eagle High program in Standish as an assistant freshman coach and also as a longtime coach in the Little Scots youth program.
Riddell also has been a coach with the Maine Sabers semipro football team and currently is the team’s offensive line coach.
Riddell didn’t return a request for a phone call seeking comment. Deering Principal Ira Waltz also didn’t return a phone message seeking comment.
Deering’s other assistant coaches are Rob Kierstead, Rocco Severino and Bill Presby.
Kierstead, a former standout linebacker at South Portland and the University of Maine, and Severino are also in their first seasons with Deering.
Presby has been a longtime varsity assistant and freshman coach at the school.
They will be on the sideline helping Riddell in his first game as the head coach.
Jaimey Caron, chairman of the Portland School Committee, said he was unaware of the incident but will be looking for direction from the Portland superintendent, Emmanuel Caulk.
“I haven’t seen any communication from the superintendent on this,” said Caron.
“I will be looking for his plan to make sure things like this don’t happen again. It’s not a good reflection on how you want to present the Portland school system.”
Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
Twitter:TomChardPPH
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