Washington football coach Jimmy Lake suspended after hitting player

Washington has suspended head football coach Jimmy Lake for a sideline incident involving linebacker Ruperake Fuavai.

There was plenty of attention on this past Saturday’s primetime game between the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies.

It was not for the final score, but for a sideline incident between Washington head coach Jimmy Lake and Ruperake Fuavai. That incident has led to the university to make a decision.

Washington athletics director Jen Cohen announced Lake will be suspended without pay from this Saturday’s game against the Arizona State Sun Devils as a result of him hitting Fuavai on the sidelines.

Washington statement on suspending Jimmy Lake

“Our staff has spent the last 24-plus hours reviewing video of the incident, as well as speaking with Coach Lake, the involved student-athlete and several other student-athletes and members of the staff, and I have made the decision to suspend Coach Lake for next Saturday’s game against Arizona State,” Cohen said in a statement, via Mike Vorel of the Seattle Times. “President (Ana Mari) Cauce, our Faculty Athletics Representative, Alexes Harris, and members of our executive staff are in agreement that while we do not believe that his actions were intentional or deliberate, we can have no tolerance for a coach interacting with a student in the manner Coach Lake did. We have high expectations of conduct for our coaches, and we will not shy away from those expectations.”

Washington coach Jimmy Lake suspended for hitting player during Oregon game

The incident occurred after Fuavai got into a sideline altercation with Oregon wide receiver Jaylon Redd. With the two exchanging words, Lake ran up to Fuavai and hit him in the helmet. Then, as the linebacker walked away, Lake shoved him in the back.

After the game, Lake said that he did not strike Fuavai, saying that he did no such thing and claimed that he “separated him.”

Lake took over as head coach of the Huskies after Chris Peterson retired. He previously served as the defensive coordinator. In less than two seasons with the team, Lake has a cumulative 7-6 record.

It is currently unknown who will serve as the interim head coach for Saturday’s game against Arizona State.

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