NORTH SMITHFIELD – Just days after the North Smithfield Police Department announced that the a charge against him had been dismissed, Jared Grasso, head coach of the Bryant College men’s basketball team, resigned from the role.
Grasso, 43, of North Smithfield, had been charged with a misdemeanor count of failure to stop following an incident on Sunday, Oct. 1, when he had allegedly fled the scene of a crash on Route 146. Police later released body camera footage from an officer’s visit to Grasso’s North Smithfield home documenting strange and erratic behavior during questioning.
Last week, the NSPD announced that the case against the coach had been dropped, noting, “Mr. Grasso’s insurance carrier accepted all liability in this matter; therefore, the case was dismissed.”
Bryant had previously placed Grasso on a leave of absence in late September.
Grasso, who has coached at the college for the last 25 years, announced his decision in a lengthy statement on X Monday, Nov. 13.
“The rigors of a coach’s lifestyle and 3 young children can make that extremely challenging,” Grasso noted. “My mental and physical health must come first at this time.”
Phil Martelli Jr. has reportedly been appointed to serve as interim head coach this season.
There’s more here than meets the eye. Why was he on suspension to begin with?