Did This Basketball Coach Cross The Line?

An basketball coach and his wife have launched a campaign to have another long-time basketball coach fired because of an alleged altercation between the two coaches’ sons during a Feb. 23 basketball game.

Max Briseno, a coach at the recreation center for the past 10 years, said his 14-year-old son Marciel was inappropriately grabbed by Michael Soracco, a veteran coach for the past 19 years. The incident allegedly occurred after Marciel and Soracco’s son, Michael Jr., 13, got into a scuffle at the final buzzer during the basketball game at the Highland Park Recreation Center, where many Eagle Rock teams played this season because of shortage of space. 

Briseno alleges Soracco also used profane language after the boys’ brawl and that he has acted aggressively before as a coach for other teams. Soracco, who was suspended for one game after the incident, said he was only trying to break up a fight between the two boys. According to him, Marciel was reprimanded and fouled several times during the game for aggressive behavior on the court—an account that Dean Harbisons, one of the two referees in the game, confirmed. Further, says Soracco, it was the Brisenos  and an assistant coach who used profanity and threatened Soracco.

“This whole thing is very unfortunate and has been completely blown out of proportion,” said Soracco, a single father of four who coaches multiple teams. As Soracco tells the story, when the buzzer rang out on what had been a contentious game, thanks to “a very lopsided score,” Marciel began “throwing punches” at his son. He says he did what any parent would do.

“I didn’t walk out there, I ran to protect my son and break them apart—that’s all,” said Soracco. “I used my hand to stop his from swinging by [holding] his elbow and nudging him away from my son—that’s not out of line.”

Briseno and his wife Maria, who serves as president of the PTA at Dahlia Heights Elementary in Eagle Rock, disagree. They say Soracco violated coaches’ code of conduct in touching their son and that suspending Soracco for one day is not enough. The coach, they allege, has a “history of bullying and verbal abuse” on the court. 

Since the incident, the Eagle Rock couple has been gathering signatures from other parents who were present at the game for a petition to have Sorocco banned for life.

The Brisenos have contacted the office of , requesting a meeting with him. A spokesman in Huizar’s office said Friday that the councilmember and his staff are waiting to get an official report from Parks and Recreation before intervening in the matter in any way.

“I’ve been coaching at Eagle Rock Park for 10 years and I’ve never gotten physical with any of the kids,” said Briseno. “You just don’t do that, no matter what. If kids get physical with each other I say ‘tell the ref, don’t tell me.”

Harbisons, the game referee, said that in a written statement given to police as well as to Patch, Marciel was fouled several times during the game for throwing punches and that he appeared to be behaving aggressively toward Michael seconds after the final buzzer rang.

“He [Marciel] was committing several hard and unnecessary fouls during the game, and when the buzzer went off, I saw the players and I saw them swinging at each other,” Harbisons said. “Mike [Soracco] was not out of line at all in going out there. He was only trying to separate the kids and he didn’t do anything out of order or with ill will.”

Soracco said that after he broke the players apart, the Brisenos, along with an assistant coach, charged onto the court and began threatening him. “I felt like they were coming at me to attack, to get physical with me,” he said.

Harbisons confirms Soracco’s account. He said the Brisenos, several players and the assistant coach, whose name was not provided, charged aggressively toward Soracco, using profanity and making verbal threats that included the words “‘I [will] break your [expletive] neck.”’

Police responded to the incident, although no official charges have been filed against Soracco, who was not there when the officers arrived.

Gonzallo Manrique, Parks and Recreation district manager, confirmed Friday that Soracco was formally suspended from one game, while his staff conducted an investigation. That game was Friday, Feb. 25, and the season has since ended. Manrique said his department has received letters, asking for Soracco to be banned, but added that there was nothing to support the Brisenos claims of wrongdoing on Soracco’s part.

For the time being, Soracco’s coaching job, which is voluntary, seems secure. “We looked into this and we have decided that one game out while we investigate what happened was sufficient,” said Manrique. “We know the police were called, but they didn’t feel there was any evidence to take formal action, so we got statements from the referees and others, and basically we decided one game out to let things cool down was enough and that’s where it stands. As far as we are concerned, if Mike wants to come back next season, he can.”

Meanwhile, Soracco said he has consulted an attorney and is weighing a lawsuit for defamation of character. He also said he has a video recording of the entire game, including the scuffle between the two players, in which Marciel can be seen swinging first and the Brisenos confronting him aggressively on the court.

“I can show exactly what happened,” said Soracco. “I’m going to continue to do what I think is right, which is protect my reputation.” Coaching kids, he added, “is my life—I’ve put my heart into this for 19 years, and I’m not going to let this [incident] ruin that for me.”

Update: As of March 9, we've decided to close comments on this story as it looks like both sides have had a chance to air their opinions. If you feel strongly about continuing the discussion, please feel free to write us at ajay.singh (a) patch.com and we'll compile the best opinions into a new story.