Coaches placed on leave again
Superintendent says action unrelated to April 6 baseball field fire
RIDGEFIELD — Ridgefield High School baseball coach Paul Fabbri and assistant baseball coach Tom Neville have been put on administrative leave pending an investigation.
Fabbri, who coached the team in its 4-3 loss to New Canaan on Wednesday, was put on administrative leave after the April 6 field fire incident at Governor Park. Superintendent William Collins put Neville and assistant coach Len “Boots” Merullo on leave for that incident. All three were reinstated less than a week later.
Collins said Friday that Fabbri and Neville’s latest administrative leave was not related to the field fire incident. He did not comment on the nature of the pending investigation, although Police Chief Jeff Kreitz said no criminal charges have been filed against either coach.
Fabbri declined to comment Friday. Neville could not be reached for comment.
A student told Hearst Connecticut Media that Fabbri was not in school on Friday.
Stacey Gross, principal at Ridgefield High School, and Athletics Director Dane Street sent a letter to the team’s players and their parents Wednesday night.
“We are writing to inform you that, due to concerns brought to the attention of the administration, varsity coaches Paul Fabbri and Tom Neville have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation,” the letter said. “This will result in changes to coaching assignments within the program as well as some schedule changes for the remainder of the season.”
The letter stated Thursday’s junior varsity and freshman games against Norwalk were postponed and sub-varsity practice scheduled for that same day was canceled. The varsity game was not canceled and a meeting was scheduled with those players before that game, according to the letter.
Ridgefield High School lost 9-3 to Norwalk on the team’s senior night Thursday. The team’s next schedued game is Monday.
“Players and parents should not be in contact with Coach Fabbri or Coach Neville during this time period,” the letter stated. “Again, we will send along more information as necessary. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.”