SEATTLE — University of Washington head football coach Jimmy Lake was suspended for one game on Monday after an altercation with a player during the first half of Saturday’s game with Oregon.
The suspension goes into effect immediately and includes all football-related activities. It will be lifted on Sunday, Nov. 14.
Lake will not be paid for this week’s game versus Arizona State.
Defensive head coach Bob Gregory will serve as acting head coach this week.
The suspension comes one day the Huskies fired offensive coordinator John Donovan after the Huskies loss to Oregon on Saturday.
Lake released the following statement after the suspension was announced.
— Jimmy Lake (@CoachLakeUDUB) November 8, 2021
The UW announced Sunday that it was investigating the coach.
Lake appeared to thrust his right arm toward Ruperake Fuavai during a brief skirmish on the Washington sideline. Fuavai appeared to be exchanging words with Oregon’s Jaylon Redd.
“We are aware of an interaction between head coach Jimmy Lake and a student-athlete during the first half of Saturday’s game,” athletic director Jen Cohen said in a statement. “We have high expectations of the conduct of our coaches and we are working to gather more information on this matter.”
Asked about it after the game, Lake said he did not hit Fuavai and was trying to get him away from Redd before it could become a penalty.
“I separated him. I did not strike him. I separated him,” Lake said.
The rivalry matchup had chippy moments throughout and players from both teams had to be separated on the field at the conclusion.
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