Soccer coach responds to mother's allegations

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A soccer coach says a Lafayette mother didn't tell the whole story when she came forward to News 18 with a complaint about the behavior of a volunteer coach.

On Thursday, mother Erica Berry said she wants to see more extensive background checks on coaches at the Greater Lafayette Regional Soccer Association. She said her fiance Sam got into a threatening argument with Jeremiah Adriano, the husband of her daughter's soccer coach, last week.

In 2007, Adriano was charged with battery but later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief.

But Jeremiah's wife, and the coach of Berry's daughter, Jamie Adriano, told News 18 Friday that Sam had caused problems before.  

Jamie said Sam approached an assistant coach last week to complain about his daughter's playing time, but the incident quickly escalating and he started screaming in Jamie's face. Jamie said that's when Jeremiah came over.

"Sam stood there, chest to chest with (Jeremiah), drunk, and said, 'Oh I heard about you cage-fighter, do something,'" Jamie said.  "So (Jeremiah) said, 'Well if you heard about it, then hit me.'  And Sam wanted Jeremiah to hit him, that way (Sam) could play the victim. It went on for longer than it probably should, but that's because (Sam) wouldn't let up."

As for the background check proposal, Jamie said she would be in favor of the soccer association board doing them. But she believe coaches should be disqualified on a case-by-case basis, depending on the severity of the charge, how long ago the charge happened and if there are multiple charges.

Soccer Association President Rodney Tucker told News 18 Thursday that the board would take up the topic of background checks during the board meeting in November.