Former Nebraska football assistant coach Carl Pelini was allegedly assaulted after a high school football game in Ohio last week, according to reports. A police report filed Friday with the Youngstown Police Department details an incident involving Pelini, the head coach at Cardinal Mooney, following a 20-6 loss to Warren Harding. Pelini was in his office when the father of a player reportedly entered the room and “sucker punched” him in the face. 

The report also indicates that Pelini had a verbal exchange with the player regarding an altercation that occurred on the field during the game. 

According to WFMJ in Youngstown, the police report states the father “barged through the doors and asked who had been giving [his son] a hard time.” Pelini informed officers that he had a conversation with the player’s father regarding a previous exchange with his son. Shortly after the discussion, the coach was reportedly punched by the father. Pelini had blood on his face near his left cheek and chin, according to the report, which also stated Pelini may have suffered broken ribs during the incident. 

The report mentions several other coaches who witnessed the incident told police that Pelini was knocked to the ground, with the player’s father on top of him, continuing to throw punches. The coaches stepped in to break up the altercation, after which the man left the scene. It was also noted in the report that the player was present during the fight and was allegedly involved in the physical altercation.

“We are aware of, and are actively investigating, the report of an assault at Cardinal Mooney High School on/about October 11th involving coach Carl Pelini as the reported victim,” Youngstown Police Detective Jason Simon told WFMJ. “The validated police report has been prepared and released by the YPD Record Room so that the public can be accurately informed. As this is an ongoing investigation of a criminal incident, nothing further can be released at this time.”

Pelini served as a defense assistant coach at Nebraska from 2008-2011 under his younger brother Bo Pelini, who was the head coach of the Huskers for seven season from 2008-2014. The older Pelini left Nebraska after the 2011 season to become the head coach at Florida Atlantic, but was fired after just two years.

In 2015, he returned to his home state of Ohio to serve as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Youngstown State. His brother had been hired as the head coach just one month after being dismissed from Nebraska.

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The younger Pelini has been the head football coach at Cardinal Mooney High School since 2020. He has just one winning season in the previous four years.