SYFA coach busted for possession

By Erik Sanzenbach
St. Tammany News
Published on Friday, November 14, 2008 9:52 AM CST

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A Slidell man who coaches for the Slidell Youth Football Association was issued a summons Sunday for possession of marijuana, according to the Slidell police.

Glen P. Ryan, 47, 147 Francis St., coached the Tigers team in Division 1 of the SYFA. Division 1 is made up of players 7 to 8 years old.

Ryan was also secretary on the SYFA Board of Directors.

Slidell police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said the SYFA Board of Directors was meeting Sunday at the Terrace Avenue fields to discuss the playoffs for the upcoming Super Bowl on Nov. 15 when Ryan got up to talk.

While he was talking, a board member noticed that a marijuana joint, or cigarette, had fallen out of Ryan’s pocket.

The board called the police, and when they arrived, Ryan was issued a summons for possession of marijuana.

John Griffin Jr., SYFA president, confirmed that Ryan was busted at the meeting.

“He is no longer a part of the organization,” Griffin said. “Immediately after the event unfolded, he was suspended indefinitely.”

Griffin added that Ryan will not be allowed to coach in any SYFA event and will no longer represent the organization.

“Slidell Youth Football Association is a drug-free organization,” Griffin said. “We will not tolerate any drug affiliation, (using selling or possession) by any parent, child, patron or park representative.”

Foltz said if Ryan is convicted, he could face six months in the Slidell jail or a $500 fine or both.

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Comments

11 comment(s)

Huh wrote on Nov 26, 2008 9:35 AM:

" What? Why wouldn't you want St. Tammany News naming the team? If I had kids playing there, I'd want to know if their coach was doing drugs. "

Mike wrote on Nov 22, 2008 9:55 PM:

" An embarrassment for our youth leagues. This individual should have been removed long ago.
PLEASE institute drug testing for all coaches and board members at all youth parks. "

DeeDee wrote on Nov 18, 2008 1:41 PM:

" This man was not banned from the field, he was only not allowed to be on the field with his coaching staff. This man was at the game immediately following his arrest and was coaching from behind the fence. He was screaming at the kids from the opposing team asking them if they were "scared". This man in my opinion should not be allowed on the grounds of SYFA as he is no "role model" for these children! "

Jackie wrote on Nov 17, 2008 10:51 PM:

" Actually I meant I would NOT have my kids around these parks to find out what happens next. And yes, he was a coach at SBBA, the board let him do whatever he wanted there, they must be so happy to have another "competent" coach representing him along with all the fights and craziness going on there. "

Jackie wrote on Nov 17, 2008 8:58 AM:

" This man coached football and baseball, another embarrassment for these parks. Who allows these guys to coach? The board members of coarse....what's gonna happen next at these parks? I know I would have my kids around there to find out. "

fball wrote on Nov 16, 2008 8:27 PM:

" I am sure there is a football team named the buccaneers but I didn't know that there were pirates at SYFA. JIM maybe you meant "OUR" instead of "ARE". By the way our tax dollars contribute to public schools, perhaps you should have paid more attention in English. "

Lewis wrote on Nov 15, 2008 7:25 AM:

" I think all teachers/coaches should take responsible for their own actions before being allowed around our children. They are supposed to be a role model and this isn’t what I want my grand children to see. I agree the name of the team and ages of the players has nothing to do with his activity. "

It was wrong wrote on Nov 14, 2008 6:12 PM:

" Are you kidding me? He brought drugs into a children's ballpark. It's one thing to do that on your own time, but to bring it into a ballpark is just wrong, especially for a coach. What if one of the kids had seen it? And I agree, St. Tammany News should not have said what team he coached for. The kids don't deserve to be associated with this. "

Why wrote on Nov 14, 2008 2:35 PM:

" What happened was unfortunate, but why would your paper name the the team, division and the age of the players? Now the children are involved. Makes no sense! "

JIM wrote on Nov 14, 2008 2:06 PM:

" R U KIDDING. WHO DID HE HURT OR ENDANGER!NO ONE! SPEND ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON REAL CRIMES "

Concerned wrote on Nov 14, 2008 11:14 AM:

" I think he also coached at SBBA and every coach should be drug tested before getting to coach children. "

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