WEST MIDDLESEX Coach pleads guilty to disorderly conduct

Richard Holzworth resigned as assistant coach.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. -- West Middlesex School District authorities don't want Richard Holzworth back on school property.
Nor will the board renew its contract with Holzworth's Penn-Ohio Rehabilitation company to again provide athletic training services in the district.
Holzworth, 46, of High Oak Farm Lane, Shenango Township, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge of disorderly conduct for striking a high school sophomore during an after-school pickup basketball game in the high school gym April 25.
A charge of simple assault was dropped in the plea bargain, said William Moder, a Mercer County assistant district attorney.
Holzworth paid a $150 fine and $92.50 in court costs and agreed to pay "a couple hundred dollars" in medical bills incurred by the student, Moder said, noting both the student and his parents were satisfied with the results of the case.
The case: Moder said Holzworth punched the student once during the game, causing some facial injuries.
Holzworth was an assistant basketball and track coach at the school and Penn-Ohio Rehabilitation had been the district's athletic trainer for the past several years, said Thomas Hubert, school board president.
Superintendent Albert Jones suspended Holzworth immediately after the assault and Holzworth resigned his coaching positions April 30, Hubert said.
On May 14, the board voted to ban Holzworth from school district property, Hubert said.
Penn-Ohio's athletic training contract expires at the end of June and it won't be renewed, Hubert said, noting the board voted to hire Sharon Regional Health System to begin providing those services.
He said Holzworth has asked for a meeting with the board to discuss what has happened, and the board will meet with him Wednesday.
Holzworth is also director of the physical therapy assistant program at Penn State Shenango in Sharon.
Dr. Fred Leeds, director of academic affairs and interim campus executive officer, said Holzworth's guilty plea to disorderly conduct won't affect his position at Penn State.