Document text
Heat loses another head coach By Tim Trower The tumultuous existence of the Southern Oregon Heat football franchise took another tumble this week, resulting in the loss of another head coach and a he-said, he-said spin. Coach Brett Wells was suspended by the National Indoor Football League prior to Wednesday�s season opener because of a probation violation. Wells was taken into custody on Monday and transported to Hillsboro on Tuesday because, he said, he had not fully paid in the required time fines resulting from a 1998 DUII conviction. As this unfolded, Heat owner Kevin Wells, no relation to the coach, notified the league Monday that the opening-game roster he turned in earlier in the day had to be changed. He divulged the situation to the league, which handed down the suspension. Brett Wells returned to Medford Wednesday, and he and Kevin Wells were both on cell phones talking to league officials until shortly before 6 p.m. trying to get the suspension overturned before the 7 o�clock kickoff. They were unsuccessful, and offensive coordinator Eric Vanderwegen, also the quarterback, took over as interim head coach � the team�s fourth since its formation last summer. Defensive back William Salade was elevated to defensive coordinator, another duty that Brett Wells handled. Kevin Wells served as an on-field assistant in the Heat�s 27-21 loss to the Yakima Shockwave. Tina Johnson, NIFL director of operations, said Friday the league was willing to lift the suspension on Brett Wells, but would replace the suspension with a fine of $10,000 against the team for conduct detrimental to the league. Kevin Wells said the amount was "substantial enough that I chose not to pay it." He said he talked to the league�s executive committee Friday morning. "They�re pretty adamant about getting the league off on the right foot," he said. "They want to set an example right away. They�re telling the coaches and general managers to take care of their responsibilities." Therein lies part of the rub. Both Brett Wells and Kevin Wells admitted they talked about the status of the DUII a while back. Brett Wells, however, said the owner offered to pay the fines of about $2,000, but couldn�t do so until after the first game, when revenue would be realized. He said Kevin Wells characterized it as a "minor problem." "He told me to take a deep breath and don�t worry about anything," said Brett Wells. "He said, �I�ll take care of it, I�ll pay the money. You just get the team prepared for the first game.� Well, I did that." He was taken into custody � on information, he said, his ex-wife provided to authorities � before Kevin Wells could make good on his alleged promise. Kevin Wells, who was out of town Friday night and couldn�t be reached again to verify Brett Wells� comments, earlier said only that he was aware of the issue. Brett Wells also said Kevin Wells told the league he was picked up for a "parole" violation instead of a "probation" violation and is considering legal action because of it. "They�re about as different as a Ferrari and a Fiat," said Brett Wells. "Parole means you were in prison, and the only prison I�ve seen is on TV." In fact, he said, he�d had no police contact since his DUII until Monday. Both Kevin Wells and Johnson � who also could not be reached for further verification � used the word "probation" in comments to the Mail Tribune earlier Friday. "It�s really not probably as big as some other things out there," said Kevin Wells of Brett Wells� transgression. "The unfortunate thing about it, from the league�s side, is that it�s something that should have been taken care of beforehand." Brett Wells said he fully intended to pay off his fines before Kevin Wells� alleged offer and that he had made some payments. His first concern, he said, was using the money he had to raise his 2�-year-old daughter. "This whole thing is just due to not having a lot of money," he said. Brett Wells said he regrets the mistake he made three years ago and said he no longer drinks and drives. In other Heat news, Vanderwegen won�t serve as player-coach for the near future because of a torn right pectoral muscle. He guesses he could be sidelined for about a month. The Heat are bringing in a new quarterback, Andy Hixson, who played at Fresno State and now is attending Humboldt State, said Vanderwegen. Another player might try out at Monday�s practice, he added. The Heat�s next game is April 14 at Kearney, Neb. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.