It’s also sparked backlash from the father of the student pushed by Chris Keime, the principal, as students variously walked and ran onto the basketball court after last month’s game to celebrate a win over Layton High School. “They just really haven’t addressed anything about the physical incident between him and my son,” said Jordan Rowell.

Keime was placed on administrative leave during the investigation, now complete, and remains in place as head of Clearfield High School, Chris Williams, spokesperson for the district, said Wednesday. Placing school officials on such leave is standard during investigations.

“The principal was placed on administrative leave, an investigation was conducted, action was taken. That’s about all I can say right now,” Williams said. It’s not clear what sort of repercussions Keime may have faced and Williams wouldn’t provide additional details, typical with personnel matters.

The muted public response, though, didn’t sit well with Rowell, who said it appears the investigation was rushed. When a district official informed him Wednesday of the district’s handling of the matter, the official noted Keime’s “impeccable record,” saying the incident was out of character for the principal.

Photo supplied, Davis School District

“It just feels like this is being brushed under the rug,” said Rowell, who asked that his son’s name not be published by the Standard-Examiner since he’s a minor. Keime reached out to Rowell as district officials were probing the incident, Rowell said, but he opted not to meet with the principal since the investigation was still ongoing at the time.

Video of the incident is making the rounds on social media. It shows the final seconds of Clearfield’s 42-37 home victory over Layton and students streaming onto the court afterward in celebration as time runs out. Though the game took place on Jan. 7, the video only came to public light late last week.

Rowell’s son, one of many, walks onto the court, arms raised in triumph, and heads toward the Clearfield team on the opposite side of the court. Keime intercepts him and forcefully pushes the student back in the chest with both hands, apparently as part of efforts to keep the court clear of spectators. The boy steps backward and heads off the court.

Keime appears to admonish other students to stay off the court, though without the same physicality, and they heed him.

“I would have already pressed charges. That’s assault,” said Chris Tremea, father of another Clearfield High School student. Tremea supplied the video to the Standard-Examiner and also posted it on his personal Facebook page on Monday.

“I’m sorry but our CHS Principal and Athletic Departments need an overhaul,” Tremea wrote in the post containing the video.

Keime didn’t immediately respond to a message sent to his school email account. Williams wouldn’t comment on Keime’s action in the video, saying the school follows Utah High School Activities Association protocols in such instances.

UHSAA guidelines, meantime, call for keeping playing areas clear of spectators.

“The host and visiting school administration and adult supervisors shall make every effort to keep the playing area clear of spectators prior to and at the conclusion of each game,” the guidelines read.

Though Keime isn’t coach of the Clearfield basketball team, the guidelines also single out the sort of behavior coaches should exhibit in helping manage crowds at sporting events.

“The conduct of coaches is the single most important factor in crowd control. They are professional educators and must control themselves even under the most difficult situations. Coaches should be a stabilizing influence in an emotionally charged situation. Winning is not the ultimate purpose of education-based activities. Their leadership as an educator is crucial,” the guidelines read.

In a separate matter, Don Eck, the Clearfield High football coach and a teacher at the school, was fired last November after a probe into a harassing and threatening voicemail he left on a student’s phone. Eck had left the message soon after the student had quit the team.

Tremea said the video showing the incident at the end of the Clearfield-Layton basketball game was brought to his attention by Clearfield students. “They were deeply concerned and threatened by the actions the principal displayed after the basketball game to one of their friends,” he said.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the addition of the supplied video of the Jan. 7, 2022, incident.