Carbondale couple faces charges for assaulting Terriers’ football coach

MARION — A Carbondale couple is facing felony charges related to a postgame incident Friday night that sent Terriers’ head football coach Bryan Lee to the hospital.

Valerie Struthers
Wesley Huffman

42-year old Valerie Struthers and 38-year old Wesley Huffman each face two counts of battery–aggravated battery in a public place and aggravated battery of a school employee. Both charges are Class 3 felonies.

Struthers and Huffman spent the weekend in the Williamson County jail awaiting their initial court appearance Monday. A preliminary hearing was set for June 7. Both posted bond and were released.

The incident occurred near the Terriers’ locker room following the team’s 54-29 season-ending loss to Marion Friday night. Struthers and Huffman are accused of striking Lee, who was treated and released after being taken to the hospital. They were arrested at the scene.

In a Facebook post Sunday morning, Lee thanked people for their kindness and messages of support.

“Friday some ugliness seeped into my world in a place where I find so much joy. A job that I love working with kids who I love even more. It sucks,” Lee wrote.

“However, it won’t stop us from loving up our kids. Making sure their needs are met and that the special thing we have created doesn’t miss a beat. We will still hassling our seniors about English papers to make sure they graduate, checking in on their social and emotional health, making sure they are fed, enjoying the hilarious things they say, pretending to get their references even though I am often clueless, giving them a place to belong, and getting them ready for the fall to PLAY FOOTBALL!” Lee continued.

“We have built this thing on discipline, accountability, and love. That doesn’t change as we put a very challenging season with so much adversity in the rear view mirror where it belongs. We move forward with love and lower pad levels leading the way!”