Texas football coach denies ordering players to hit referee

Published Oct. 15, 2015 11:19 a.m. ET

foxsports

ROUND ROCK, Texas (AP) A Texas high school assistant football coach has denied ordering two players to hit a referee and says he only resigned under threat of being fired.

Mack Breed told the state's governing body for high school sports that he did say on the sideline that umpire Robert Watts ''needs to pay'' but was surprised when the players hit Watts. Video of the Sept. 4 incident created a national stir.

Breed had not spoken publicly until Thursday, but says he now wants to clear his name.

The University Interscholastic League suspended Breed for the rest of the school year but could have suspended him for up to three years.

The UIL also suspended the two players, a senior and a sophomore, from sports for the rest of the academic year.