Crime & Safety

Avon Volunteer Football Coach Dismissed Following Arrest

This arrest information does not indicate a conviction.

An Avon High School volunteer football coach arrested on drug and alcohol charges has been forbidden from coaching at the school again.

David Wyrick, 20, a former Avon football player, volunteered as an assistant coach with the "subvarsity" football program at the high school last season, according to Avon High School Athletic Coordinator Newell Porch. Soon after Wyrick was , school administration banned him from school grounds. Porch said that Wyrick is not involved "with any of our programs," as a result.

"A decision was made soon after we were notified of the situation," Porch said Tuesday. "He's no longer on our coaching staff."

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Simsbury police charged Wyrick, who now lives in Collinsville, with possession with intent to sell, a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia and burglar’s tools, both misdemeanors. He was also cited with infractions of possession of liquor by a minor, operating a motor vehicle with a license that is suspended or revoked and failure to drive right. His next court date in Enfield is Feb. 29 and he has not entered a plea yet, according to the state judicial website.

Wyrick was not a paid coach, school officials confirmed.

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Porch, who has to sign off on any athletics volunteers, said that Wyrick was certified by the state of Connecticut as a coach. Volunteers go through a background check and do not have to submit an application if, like in Wyrick's case, they are not vying for a vacant coaching position. As part of their training, volunteers also have to take the same CPR and concussion safety course that paid coaches do.

The district is reviewing the process of vetting volunteers, Porch said.

Wyrick's arrest happened almost exactly a year after former freshman football coach David Olson resigned after he was arrested in his Simsbury home on New Year's Eve in 2010. Simsbury police charged Olson with permitting a minor to possess alcohol and violation of a town ordinance that prohibits underage drinking on private property. The in Enfield Superior Court on Feb. 3, 2011.

Porch said that if high school athletics staff members or volunteers are arrested, the consequence is typically dismissal from that role.

Avon Patch left messages on Wyrick's home phone voicemail, which were not returned by the time of publication.

Editor's Note: If there's something in this article that you think should be corrected or if you have questions or a news tip give Avon Patch Editor Jessie Sawyer a ring at 860-356-6339 or shoot her an e-mail at Jessie.Sawyer@patch.com. Join in on the Avon Patch conversation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AvonPatch) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/AvonPatch). You can also add your own announcements and events or apply to blog on Patch.


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