WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, ALGrissom football coach arrested for DUI

Grissom football coach arrested for DUI

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Grissom High School's head football coach Keith Henderson was arrested for drunk driving.  

According to Dr. Casey Wardynski, Henderson's blood alcohol level was .12 at the time of his arrest.

Huntsville police said Henderson was driving a white Chevrolet Silverado on school grounds while intoxicated around 9 p.m. Saturday. He was booked into Madison County Jail and later released on bond.

Police are not releasing the results of his blood alcohol test since it could be used as evidence in Henderson's case.

Henderson is on paid administrative leave. The Grissom Tigers' first game is less than two weeks away. They play Lee High School August 26th.

"We don't condone that type of behavior, and we realize that people make mistakes. We stand behind Coach Henderson, and we hope that the community will get behind him too," said Grissom Booster Club President Brian Williams. "Right now, our team has had three coaches in three years.  It's hard for the boys and they need a head coach.  They need Keith Henderson and he needs us too."

"He still a role model to the kids. He's a father figure," he continued.

Williams said the football team will have practice Monday with the assistant coaches. 

"The team will be preparing for the Jamboree with Pell City," he said. "We'll be ready for it. We just need a head football coach for the entire football season."

Dr. Wardynski said he expects to make a decision about coach Henderson's future by Thursday.

This arrest came just one day after Huntsville Police responded to Grissom High School for what authorities called a prank that went too far.

Witnesses said students threw water balloons at people walking near campus along with customers at a nearby Sonic.

One student was hurt and was treated and released from the hospital. Dozens of students were suspended.

The kick off to the high school football season is two weeks away, so where does this leave the Grissom Tigers?

The football team has been working hard trying turn around the program in 2011 since losing 9 games last season.

WAFF 48 sports visited practice last week and the tigers were feeling very upbeat about the new year.

Officials said one of the assistant coaches will most likley lead the team against the Pell City Panthers on Friday in St. Clair County.

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