NEW ROCHELLE, NY — New Rochelle High School Head Football Coach Louis DeRienzo threatened to resign as football coach if Ray Rice’s #5 high school jersey was taken down from a wall in the school’s gymnasium, sources say.
The threat reportedly came after the central office of the City School District of New Rochelle transmitted instructions to Reggie Richardson the high school’s principal to remove Rice’s jerseys, images and his Wall of Fame plaque from the school the day after a video was release which showed Rice assaulting his then-finance now-wife Janay Palmer.
These sources were unsure who exactly gave the order but Richardson reports directly to Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Osborne.
A meeting was held at New Rochelle High School to discuss the District’s response to the controversial video. While the exact discussion at the meeting was not known by these sources, among those in attendance were said to be Richardson, DeRienzo, and New Rochelle School District Athletic Director Steve Young.
In a statement which appeared in USA TODAY, Young said the removal of the #27 Ravens jersey was not permanent.
As part of a compromise, Rice’s #27 Baltimore Ravens jersey was removed but the high school jersey remained. A third jersey, Rice’s #27 Rutgers University jersey was also allowed to remain hanging in the weight room used by the football team.
A photograph and plaque of Ray Rice on the school’s Wall of Fame was removed at Richardson’s direction. Students took matters into their own hands, putting up their own “Wall of Fame” photograph of Rice.
UPDATE: DeRienzo “No Comment” to News12 whether he considered boycotting games this season. DeRienzo says he met with Ray Rice yesterday.
#RayRice HS coach tells @LisaNews12 met w him yest. When asked coach if he considered boycotting season bc skl not backing Rice, no comment.
— CeFaan Kim (@CeFaanKim) September 12, 2014