Steve Belles placed on leave for alleged hazing.

[BobbyMac]

Former ND back up QB on the '88 Championship team, Steve Belles has been placed on administrative leave while being investigated for alleged hazing. Belles is the head coach of Hamilton High in Chandler AZ, one of the top national programs over the last 15 years. ND's Cole Luke played for Belles as did the Raven's Terrell Suggs.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Multiple sources now confirm. Hamilton head football coach Steve Belles placed on leave amidst investigation into hazing. <a href="https://t.co/EEP5W3XMcf">https://t.co/EEP5W3XMcf</a></p>— AZ Varsity- Football (@AZHSFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/AZHSFB/status/848995183194537985">April 3, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hearing from a source that Steve Belles has been relieved of his duties as head football coach at Hamilton. Working to confirm.</p>— AZ Varsity- Football (@AZHSFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/AZHSFB/status/848991417611374592">April 3, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BeauBenken]

This stuff has become rampant. Plenty of coaches losing their jobs due to locker room hazing that they're pinned for either knowing about and doing nothing, encouraging, or not knowing anything and therefore at fault for being negligent.

 

[BGIF]

Hamilton High School's Belles 'reassigned' as football coach after players' arrests
Richard Obert , azcentral sports Published 2:10 p.m. MT April 3, 2017 | Updated 26 minutes ago

Steve Belles, the head football coach at Chandler Hamilton High School, has been reassigned as head football coach and teacher at Hamilton, according to the Chandler Unified School District.

During the term of the reassignment, Belles will not be present on the Hamilton High School campus. The reassignment is indefinite in length and is not disciplinary, according to the district, but CUSD spokesman Terry Locke said there is a chance Belles could return as coach and teacher.

This comes less than a week after six Hamilton football players were arrested in connection with hazing incidents during a 17-month span.

Three of the players were charged, one as an adult.

Belles led Hamilton to five Arizona Big Schools state championships since he took over in 2006 from John Wrenn.

Belles did not return messages, nor did Hamilton Principal Ken James or Athletic Director Shawn Rustad.

Nathaniel William Thomas, 17, was charged by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office on Wednesday with one count of sexual assault, three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of kidnapping and two counts of molestation.

The charges relate to attacks on three teammates on school property. According to materials provided by the Maricopa County Superior Court, prosecutors said Thomas used his finger to molest one teammate and attempted to do so to two others.

Thomas' attorney, Ken Countryman, said at the teen's initial court appearance at 2 a.m. Friday that Thomas vehemently denied the allegations and has not admitted to anything. Countryman described the high-school junior as a good student who held a job and had strong family support.

In addition to Thomas, two 16-year-old suspects also were arrested in connection with the case. They have been charged as juveniles, with counts of kidnapping, aggravated assault and assault. Because they have been charged as juveniles, their names are not being released.

Thomas was taken into custody at the school by Chandler police with five other students earlier this week. Prosecutors continue to investigate a charge that Chandler police are seeking against a 15-year-old player believed to be involved. Two other players arrested have since been released.

Police said they were alerted by a third party in February to alleged crimes described as being part of a 17-month-long hazing incident at the school.

Police said the crimes impacted "multiple male victims" on the high school's football team. The series of related crimes likely occurred on school grounds, located at Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo Road, police said.

Thomas, a student at both Hamilton and Chief Hill Learning Academy, was listed as a defensive back on the 2016 Hamilton football roster but was not among regular starters.

According to police records released Friday, witnesses or the victim received threats of violence if they tried to report the crime.

Chandler police believe there is a possibility other victims may exist and have urged those with information about the case to call 480-782-4130.