HIGH SCHOOL

Assaulted Riverdale coach transferred to Vanderbilt for surgery

Tom Kreager
tkreager@dnj.com

MURFREESBORO Riverdale football coach Ron Aydelott sustained severe facial injuries after school officials say a 17-year-old male student assaulted him in his coach's office Tuesday morning.

Aydelott, who has coached the past nine years at Riverdale, was later transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville for surgery, Riverdale principal Tom Nolan told The Daily News Journal.

"We're just in total shock," Nolan said. "I don't know how how else to explain it. We're just concerned about coach Aydelott.

"He will have to undergo some surgery."

The student has been charged with aggravated assault according to a news release from the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department.

School Resource Officer James Coots arrested the student and transported him to the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center, the release said. The student is scheduled to appear at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Rutherford County Juvenile Court.

Nolan said the male was not a football player at the school but was wanting to try out for the team. Nolan wouldn't say what led to the assault.

"(Aydelott) basically just got attacked," Nolan said. "The kid just went nuts on him. Coach Aydelott was sitting down at his desk and the guy just kept whaling on him.

"He finally stopped. The kid then walked into the office, put his hands behind his back and surrendered."

Aydelott was originally transported to Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro before being transferred to Vanderbilt.

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com.