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Maiden football coach charged after Cleveland County arrest; district names interim leader
Will Byrne faces DWI, reckless driving and misdemeanor child-abuse charges after an arrest early Oct. 25. Catawba County Schools suspended him from his teaching job with pay, and assistant Justin Hawn will lead the team for its final regular-season game.
MAIDEN, N.C. — Will Byrne, Maiden High School’s head football coach and a physical education teacher, was arrested in Cleveland County shortly after midnight Oct. 25 and charged with driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger and misdemeanor child abuse, court records show.
An arrest warrant says the child-abuse charge stems from a child being in the vehicle while Byrne was allegedly impaired. Court records show a breath test registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.19. Byrne, 43, was released after posting $2,500 bond. The charges are allegations; the records cited do not establish guilt.
Catawba County Schools said Byrne reported the arrest to the district. The district suspended him with pay from his teaching position on Oct. 26. Byrne also resigned as head football coach, reportedly citing health reasons.
“Catawba County Schools takes these charges seriously and expects employees to exercise sound judgment consistent with their responsibilities as educators and role models,” the district said in a statement.
Justin Hawn, who was already on Maiden’s football staff, will serve as interim head coach. Maiden entered its final regular-season week with a 4-5 record through nine games and was scheduled to play Newton-Conover on Friday, Oct. 30.