Catholic High assistant coach charged with headbutting man

An assistant basketball coach at Catholic High School faces an aggravated assault charge after he allegedly pulled a knife and headbutted a man during an argument over his girlfriend.

Lucas Alexander Branch, a 24-year-old Catholic High graduate who played basketball for the Fighting Irish from 2007-11, was arrested on April 25 on the felony charge, according to court documents.

Catholic athletic director Jason Surlas said Wednesday he was unaware of Branch's arrest when contacted by the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

Around 6:45 p.m. on April 25, a Knox County Sheriff's Office deputy responded to a report of a fight in a bathroom at Aubrey's Restaurant, 9208 Middlebrook Pike, and found Branch and a victim, identified as Ardeshir Yavari-Baigvand, according to the arrest warrant.

Yavari-Baigvand told authorities Branch followed him into the bathroom, told him to stay away from his girlfriend, pulled a knife and said, "I will (expletive) you up, stay away from her," the warrant reads.

Branch allegedly put the knife away, headbutted Yavari-Baigvand in the head and left the bathroom. Authorities later found a black pocket knife in Branch's pocket, according to the warrant.

A witness who was in the restroom during the fight told authorities Branch waited for Yavari-Baigvand to come out, then continued yelling at him.

Branch told authorities the fight began when he was sitting at a table with his girlfriend when Yavari-Baigvand approached and told her she owed him $10,000. Branch saw his girlfriend was upset and went into the bathroom where he encountered Yavari-Baigvand.

Branch's was arraigned at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. His preliminary hearing is set for June 6 at 9 a.m.

USA TODAY Network - Tennessee reporter Troy Provost-Heron contributed to this story.