Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) - Jason Stinson is back in the news but not by choice.
The former Pleasure Ridge Park High School football coach was acquitted of reckless homicide last year after one of his players collapsed during practice and later died.
Now a candidate for Louisville mayor has made what some call a bold statement about that case and is upsetting Stinson and those close to him.
Rodney Daughtery is a close friend of Jason Stinson and is coming out with a book this year about the trial that made national headlines.
He says this was Stinson’s reaction to the comment:
“It was one of those things you heard it and then you turn around right out loud…did he just say that did he honestly just say that?” says Daughtery.
Nimbus Couzin is running for Louisville mayor. He teaches physics at U of L and runs Ray’s Monkey House coffee shop in the highlands.
He would not go on camera with WHAS11 News but told us by phone that he does not apologize for the comment but welcomes Stinson to call him so they can talk.
“Jason Stinson is not a running for political office, he was acquitted. He doesn't get to go out and make statements like parents send their kids to school with the expectation of an education not to have their kid come home in a box, that's pretty strong words, that’s pretty slanderous,” says Daughtery.
Couzin says he did say this in reference to the Stinson situation.
The former PRP coach stood trial for reckless homicide after one of his players collapsed during practice and later died.
But Couzin says he did indicate that Stinson was a scapegoat and that athletics should be put before education.
That is little comfort to some Stinson supporters.
WHAS11 News is told that all Jason Stinson wants at this point is an apology but Couzin is yet to give one.
