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Holy Family suspends basketball coach

John O'Connor, the first-year head men's basketball coach at Holy Family, has been suspended pending an investigation into allegations that he assaulted a player.

John O'Connor, the first-year head men's basketball coach at Holy Family, has been suspended pending an investigation into allegations that he assaulted a player.

Tom Durso, a university spokesman, confirmed yesterday that the suspension was effective Thursday. He would not comment on the reason for the suspension, or for how long it would last.

According to a police report, which did not name O'Connor, a 19-year-old man claimed that on Jan. 25, "while at basketball practice, his coach grabbed the ball, elbowed him and backhanded him, causing him to fall to the ground," said Officer Tanya Little, a police spokeswoman.

The victim was seen by a trainer and a doctor after suffering minor injuries, Little said, adding that there has been no arrest in the case.

O'Connor joined Holy Family after serving as an assistant at Georgia Tech.

An attempt to reach O'Connor was unsuccessful. The school did not return a request for a statement from the school's sports information office.

- Julie Shaw