Man pleads guilty in attack of daughter’s coach

Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000 | 9:38 a.m.

At a hearing Friday in Carson City Justice Court, Dan Paterson, 51, said he regrets the confrontation with Justin Pruett, the eighth-grade girl's basketball coach at Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School in Gardnerville.

Justice Court Judge John Tatro suspended a 90-day jail sentence, but ordered Paterson to perform 40 hours of community service, undergo an anger management evaluation and write a letter of apology to the coach.

Tatro, who coaches youth sports himself, called the retired teacher's conduct inexcusable.

"As this sage, wise teacher, you're at a higher standard," the judge said. "You had a responsibility to treat it like a professional and you didn't. You did it like one of those crazed parents.

"You blew it big-time, and there's no excuse."

Paterson is accused of attacking the coach after his daughter's team lost a game to Eagle Valley Middle School in Carson City.

Pruett has said Paterson punched him, pushed him against a wall and threatened him in anger over his coaching decisions.

Paterson told Tatro that he approached Pruett on his daughter's behalf to discuss the coach's strategy. Paterson said he grabbed the coach's collar when he refused to listen.

"It was just a natural instinct for me, just to get him to listen," Paterson said.

"I realize this wasn't what I should have done. I'm astounded that it's gotten this far."

Pruett has said Paterson was angry because he played all the girls rather than focus solely on winning the game.