A Connecticut high school girls’ basketball coach was arrested last week after allegedly assaulting a referee during a game.
Thomas Sparks was coaching a team for the Connecticut Elite youth basketball league in Shelton on October 24 when he allegedly choked the official over a disputed foul call, according to CT Post.
The 37-year-old was arrested and charged with third-degree assault, second-degree strangulation and risk of injury to a child, according to a police report obtained by the outlet.
Five days on from his arrest, Sparks resigned on Thursday as the Staples girls basketball coach, a position he had held since 2024.
Staples High School Athletic Director VJ Sarullo said Sparks had resigned ‘for personal and family considerations.’
The referee told police that Sparks had called him a ‘dickhead’ during a verbal spat after the coach disagreed with a call.
High school basketball coach Thomas Sparks was arrested after allegedly assaulting a referee
Sparks is accused of tripping and choking the official over a disputed foul call
The 37-year-old resigned from his position as girls basketball coach at Staples High School
Sparks is then alleged to have tripped the official and shoved him to the ground, according to the police report.
While the referee was still on the ground, Sparks is claimed to have put his arm around the man’s neck and choked him.
The official claimed to police that he felt like he may have passed out before members of the crowd intervened.
Sparks was then kicked out of the Boys and Girls Club in Shelton, where the game was being played, and the referee later went to the police station to file a complaint.
However, Sparks attempted to defend his actions, reportedly telling police that he reacted physically as he was unsure how the referee would respond to the verbal exchange, according to the report.
Multiple witnesses, including some players, supported the official’s version of events.
Sparks was arrested on the same day and charged with assault, strangulation and risk of injury to a child, according to CT Post.
He was released on a $10,000 bond and is slated to return to court on November 12.
The Daily Mail has contacted the Shelton Police Department for confirmation. The Staples High School athletics department and Connecticut Elite have also been contacted for comment.
