No Charges in Beating of Coach David Daniel

A grand jury in Hancock County will not bring criminal charges against football players accused in the severe beating of a head football coach last fall.

Warren County Coach David Daniel was trying to break up a fight between his team and players from Hancock Central when he was hit and injured in October of 2011.

According to the grand jury and the GBI, a Hancock Central player said that Daniel hit him first. The player said that Daniel hit him three times, twice in the chest and once in the face. The player then hit Daniel, who fell on the ground, according to the player.

Daniel was taken to the hospital after allegedly being attacked by members of the Hancock Central High School football team. He suffered serious injuries to his face and head. It had previously been reported  that the Warren County team had been locked out of their locker room after the game, prompting the confrontation between the teams. It had been said that Daniel had been hit in the head with football helmets by members of the opposing. However, the GBI's investigation said his injuries were caused by two punches from a player and not a helmet.

The report also said that the Warren County team manager had the key to the locker room and was slow in unlocking it, and not as a result of anything from the Hancock Central team.

Daniels retued to coach his team a week after the incident.