GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Public Schools suspended the head football coach of Union High School Monday after an alleged drunk driving incident over the weekend.
Don Fellows, 48, is facing failure to stop at the scene of a personal injury accident, operating while intoxicated, and failure to stop after a collision charges.
He's awaiting arraignment.
According to court documents filed in the case, the North Muskegon Police Department found Fellows behind the wheel on Ruddiman with a flat tire. A number of alleged witnesses and other drivers, authorities said, had followed the damaged vehicle.
A passenger in the car later told authorities they had just left Bear Lake Tavern, and thought they hit something.
That initial crash happened in the area of 700 Ruddiman and damaged the back of a Silverado.
Investigators believe that damage is consistent with damage to Fellow's vehicle.
He's accused of smelling like alcohol, displaying a lack of balance and having slurred speech, and authorities said he admitted to police multiple times that he was drunk.
Investigators also found empty beer cans in the back seat of the vehicle.
The alleged incident did not involve GRPS or any of the district's students, the school said.
“We are saddened by these developments but committed to ensuring continuity for our scholar-athletes. An interim replacement coach has been appointed and he will assume leadership responsibilities immediately,” GRPS Executive Director of Athletics Kurt Johnson said. “Our focus is and always has been on the best interest of the scholars we serve. We know that their participation on the Union High School football team has been enriching and we won’t allow that to change.”
Assistant Coach Scott Van Essen was named interim head coach effective immediately. Practice went on as scheduled Monday, the district said in a letter notifying parents obtained by 13 OYS.
Fellows previously coached the Grand Rapids Christian High School football team, leading them to a state championship in 2012. He also posted the winningest record of all time at GRCH.
When Fellows joined Union's football program in 2020, the Red Hawks had lost 43 straight games and hadn't won since 2015.
Union's next home game is Friday versus Zeeland West.
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