UPDATE
BOCA RATON, FL -- As the Benjamin School football team takes the field against Pope John Paul II High School, the coach whose stood on the Buccaneers' sidelines for more than 30 years is noticeably missing.
"When your leader's gone it's always hard. Coach Ream is Benjamin Football," Benjamin Assistant Coach Dave Parks tells NewsChannel 5.
The letters "CR" for "Coach Ream" are now worn on the players' helmets as the man who multiple sources say was forced to resign is clearly on everyone's minds both on and off the field.
Karen Gilmore says her son chose to go to The Benjamin School because of Coach Ream.
She calls his resignation, "Our worst nightmare," saying, "Words cannot express the sadness that I feel today with him not being here; it's not the same."
Several anonymous sources as well as former player Conner Kempe who now plays for Dartmouth, tell NewsChannel 5 that the alleged resignation stems from several incidents with one player.
The first, we're told, happened when Ream reportedly disciplined the 11th grader during a recent practice.
Kempe says it was described to him as a typical interaction between a player and coach but, "It was seen by an outsider, an onlooker, as being very violent and very non sportsman like and therefore it was taken to the board of trustees."
Sources say during last week's game that same player then punched an assistant coach, breaking his nose and cheekbone.
Although sources claim Ream was not involved in that incident, they claim the boy's mother pressed to have Ream dismissed as coach.
Assistant Coach Parks who describes Ream as his "best friend," tells NewsChannel 5 that the team has been left in the dark.
"When we left for the game today we knew nothing, we still don't know anything. They're just keeping very hush, hush," he explains.
So, while the game must go on, many feel the heart of the team is now gone.
"We really miss him," Parks says.
Sources tell NewsChannel 5 that the injured assistant coach may file criminal charges against the teen that allegedly hit him.
The accused teen's mother told me by phone that she had no comment.
We also reached out to the Benjamin School.
Their official statement is that this is a personnel issue that can't be discussed.
Our attempts to reach Ream were unsuccessful but we're told he will still be allowed to teach at Benjamin.
NORTH PALM BEACH, FL-- Citing sources, NewsChannel 5 reports a popular long time coach at the prestigious Benjamin School has been forced out of his job.
Support for head football coach Ron Ream is pouring in after an alleged sideline assault by a Benjamin player that may have been connected to the departure.
The forced ouster of Ream as coach is just part of the story.
NewsChannel 5 reports that an assistant coach at Benjamin is considering filing criminal charges, claiming he was assaulted by a Benjamin player during a game...and that ultimately may have played a role in Ream's removal.
The incident that could lead to the assault charge allegedly happened at last week's Kings Academy-Benjamin game.
Sources tell NewsChannel 5 an 11th grader taken out of the game repeatedly punched a Benjamin volunteer defensive coach on the sideline.
There were many witnesses.
The coach suffered a broken cheekbone and other facial injuries.
Coach Ron Ream was not involved in that incident but, according to sources, had a run-in with the same boy a week before in which there was some shoving involved.
NewsChannel 5's sources said the boy's mother, who threatened legal action, pressed to have Ream dismissed as coach after the incident on the sidelines during the Kings game.
Ream, with 30 years on the sidelines, was removed from coaching but will stay on to teach.
The Benjamin School, alma mater of assorted high profile residents, is not commenting.
But hundreds of people are writing blogs in support of the long-time coach, and there is a web site soliciting signatures on a petition to reinstate him. It claims the firing of Ream is a "travesty and a farce."
Congressman Tom Rooney played for Ream and joins the chorus of people who want him back.
He said, "Coach Ream has always been a second father to me."
Ream, who has always taught at the school, is widely respected.
In an interview with NewsChannel 5 years ago he said, "I'd like to get a few more wins before I retire."
Ream did not return a call to his home.
The school would not discuss what it calls a 'personnel issue.'
