HIGHLAND — Although video of Lone Peak High School former football coach Monte Morgan subduing a student after a fight is circulating on YouTube, Alpine School District officials say they will take no further action.
That is because the incident on film occurred more than two weeks ago and has already been investigated and resolved, said Alpine District spokeswoman Rhonda Bromley.
"We've already taken care of it," Bromley said. "It's happened. It's past."
The incident occurred March 12. The video was posted to the Web site YouTube Tuesday.
Morgan was suspended without pay for two days: March 13 and 14. The two boys were also suspended for one or more days. This was to allow district officials to investigate the incident, Bromley said.
"There was no other disciplinary action of the teacher or the boys — nor do we feel there needs to be," she said.
Morgan did not return phone messages left at his home by the Deseret Morning News on Wednesday.
Lone Peak High School Principal Kenneth Koop, when contacted Wednesday, deferred comment to Bromley.
The incident happened in the locker room at Lone Peak High. Two boys were fighting, and Morgan, who teaches weightlifting at the school, broke up the fight, Bromley said.
A student not involved in the fight videotaped the end of the incident on his cell phone. The footage eventually made its way to the principal, Bromley said.
The video on YouTube is titled "Coach Monte Morgan Student Abuse Video."
School officials don't know who posted the video on YouTube, Bromley said.
A paragraph on YouTube explaining the video reads: "This video is a video of a cell phone video taken by a student in the Lone Peak Locker room while Coach Monte Morgan was physically abusing a student."
School administrators interviewed Morgan, the two boys, witnesses and the boys' parents. Morgan and the two students were then allowed back to school, Bromley said.
"A lot took place (minutes) before the video. There is a lot the video doesn't show," Bromley said. "That was investigated."
The blurry footage, which appears to be a videotape of what was recorded on a cell phone, shows Morgan subduing a student by holding him against a wall and telling the student to "shut up."
The transcript, as best as can be deciphered, is:
Morgan: "There is no reason for this. You stop it."
Student: (muffled).
Morgan: "(muffled). I can do anything I want to do. You're attacking me."
Student: "I'm not attacking you. You're f---ing attacking me. You slammed my g-- d--- head in the ..."
Morgan: "Shut up. Shut up. OK? Shut that up ... (muffled) You shut that up. You guys get to class."
Morgan resigned last fall after 11 years as football coach at Lone Peak High, saying he was looking for a fresh perspective. He remained on the faculty at Lone Peak for this school year.
Morgan is slated to coach football at Salem High School in Nebo School District this fall.
"He is leaving on good terms," Bromley said. "We wish him the best of luck."
The video can be viewed at www.youtube.com.
E-mail: astewart@desnews.com