You are on page 1of 17

September 19, 2008

Today's date is September 10th...I'm sorry...September 19th, 2008. Time now is 10:21
hours. My name is Detective Terry Jones, Code #6354, I'm with the Louisville Metro Police
Department. This interview pertains to Case File #08-197, uh, it is a death investigation
involving victim Max Gilpin. This interview is being conducted at the uh, JCTA uh, office.
We're at the Waterson uh, Towers. And this interview is of Mr. Jason Hiser. Uh, also present
during this interview is, is uh, Mark Miller and Sgt. Denny Butler.

Jones At this time uh, Coach uh, Hiser, can you


identify yourself?

Hiser Uh, Jason Hiser.

Jones Okay. And your date of birth?

Hiser
Jones And address?

Hiser 4903 Cress Court.

Jones And phone number?

Hiser
Jones Okay. Are you aware this interview is being
taped?

Hiser Yes, sir.


Page 2 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

Jones Does it meet with your approval?

Hiser Yes, it meets.

Jones Okay. Uh, Mr. Miller, can you acknowledge


that you are here and present?

Miller I also acknowledge.

Jones Uh, Sgt. Denny Butler?

Butler Uh, my code number is #6084.

Jones Okay. At this time uh, Mr. Hiser, can you


relate to the uh, practice that occurred August
20th, 2008, while at PRP's football field,
practice field...the events that occurred that
day?

Hiser Uh, yes. Uh, as I arrived at PRP that day, uh,


the defense went over to the weight room to lift
weights while the offense watched film. We
then switched. After about 25 to 30 minutes of
lifting, then the defense went to watch film and
the offense went to the weight room. Uh, after
film session, uh, we headed over to the practice
field. Uh, approximately uh, a little bit after 4
o'clock, uh, we did our stretching routine and
warm-up, we went to team take-off's. After the
team take-off period was over, uh, I sent the
defense to get water after they broke down, we
then went in the uh, EDD's, our, your
individual positions, the linebackers and
defensive back came over there with me from
their water break. We did six or seven minutes
of bag drills, they got to break down, they got
some more water. They come back, we did
Page 3 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

about six or seven more of individual type


stuff. We met with the defensive linemen, did
run fits, uh, assignment type stuff...they got
another break down at the conclusion of
EDD's. Uh, the linebackers and defensive
backs then went with me over to the offensive
skill positions, we did our seven on seven
session...the first group went about seven or
eight plays, we sent in group 2, the ones were
instructed to go get water. The twos and uh,
some threes and others that kinda three and
below guys that mix in, they uh, they went for
about seven or eight plays. Uh, ones were
called back up, the guys the twos and below
were told to go get water. The ones went again
for about seven or eight plays, we ended the
seven on seven period, and they were all told to
get water...even, that's included everybody,
even if the two just got back from water, we all
go get water, to get 'em off the field. Uh, after
the water break, they come back and uh, Coach
Stinson told 'em to line up. We uh, went
straight in to conditioning that day. I was there
for uh, on the, on the touch side of the practice
field, away from where they begin their
runnin'...their gassers. Uh, I was there for
approximately two or three minutes, at the
most, and then I walked off the practice field
and headed, headed home.

Jones Okay. Uh, Coach Hiser, what is your position?

Hiser I'm the defense coordinator, linebackers,


defensive back coach.

Jones Okay. And uh, how long have you been a


coach?
Page 4 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

Hiser I have been coaching high school football...this


is uh, my, gonna be my fifth year, my third
year at PRP.

Jones Okay. Where did you coach at, prior to PRP?

Hiser Holy...Holy Cross High School.

Jones Okay. Okay, sir, so you said the uh, as you


arrived, the team was doing lifting and,
and...and stretching drills? Uh, is this...and
also films...and the practice actually started at
what time? They actually got on the field at
what time?

Hiser Uh, it was pro'bly uh, right around 4 o'clock.

Jones Okay. And at which time did you explain the


drills that were takin' place, the bag drills,
things of such, and was that at full gear?

Hiser The, the...once we got up to the practice field


at four is they do their stretchin' first.

Jones Okay.

Hiser As, as a team.

Jones As a team?

Hiser Everybody together.

Jones Okay.

Hiser And then team take-off's, yeah, everything's in


full gear, up to this point.

Jones Okay. And you, what time was your first water
Page 5 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

break?

Hiser Uh, after the defense uh, got done with their
team take-off's, it was pro'bly right around uh,
heck...a little bit after 4:30, maybe, is when I
sent them over there.

Jones Okay. And this is your particular group, not


the entire team. Correct?

Hiser Correct.

Jones And how many, how many are in your


particular group?

Hiser Uh, in my group is...on any given day, with


absences, approximately 20 players.

Jones Okay.

Hiser Seven positions, if there's two guys at each


position, you know...

Jones And that's including freshmen and JV players?


Are they included?

Hiser Yes. Dur...during the uh, individual period


freshmen do come with us also. And JV
players.

Jones So, so you, after your water, your first water


break, uh, you went back, you did more
training, 'cause in, in full gear, at full speed...

Hiser Yes, sir.

Jones Consisting of you said seven on seven, and


things like that?
Page 6 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

Hiser Well, no, af...af, after the team take-off's, they


came over to the, the...the everyday drills.

Jones Okay.

Hiser And that's when I just had the, the...my


positions, the linebackers, defensive backs, six
or seven minutes, water break, six or seven
more minutes, water break, and then we went
to seven on seven.

Jones Okay. And, and again, all the other, every,


every coach has their assignment, and the other
coaches were doin' their assignments with their
particular groups. Correct?

Hiser Yes.

Jones And is everything followed in an agenda-type


fashion?

Hiser Yeah, we have uh, we have a schedule, but the


individual period may say 25 minutes for your
po...your individual's EDD's...

Jones ...Yes, sir...

Hiser ...and there's no set schedule that you have to


follow with your players. Like you know,
some days my guys might get two or three
water breaks during that period.

Jones And that's if you're satisfied with their


performance?

Hiser Uh, no, I just...I, I just really have a routine, if


it's a little bit longer and we get some down
Page 7 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

time, you know, and, and...instead of just


making, picking more stuff for 'em to do, I'll
send 'em to get water, then maybe bring 'em
back, do some uh, uh...I guess mental type
stuff, chalk-talk, as a group, maybe.

Jones So you, you...you have an agenda but you don't


actually follow it to a point, if the, if you can
get something else in that timeframe...and
that's what you said, some, some mental time
or whatever?

Hiser Uh, yes, sir.

Jones Okay. Alright. So leading up to the second


break, what time is your second break?

Hiser Uh, the second break was uh, six or seven


minutes in to the individuals of the time, I'm
not 100% sure...

Jones Okay. Your group again, right?

Hiser My, my group again.

Jones They go, they go get water, they come back.


Okay. What happens when they come back uh,
after the second break?

Hiser ...We, we do, we do about six or seven more


minutes of uh, individual position-type stuff.

Jones Okay. And...

Hiser And that's when we meet with the defense line,


also.

Jones Did you take a third water break?


Page 8 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

Hiser Yes, at the end of that period, when uh,


individuals is now over...

Jones ...Um-hmm..

Hiser ...uh, all the defense, as a whole, went over


there to go get water.

Jones Okay. And this is...and this is leading up to


seven on seven?

Hiser Yes, sir.

Jones Okay. And seven players on, on seven players.


Correct? Defensive players...seven players and
the offense has seven players. Is that correct?

Hiser Yeah, uh, the quarterback might be eight, but...

Jones ...Okay...

Hiser ...basically, yes.

Jones And again, uh, when they're doing the seven on


seven, uh, do they take a break after that?

Hiser Uh, they basically what it is, you have uh, you
have guys that are watchin', that aren't in the
first string...the first string goes, usually seven
or eight plays...they go get water, the other
guys fill in, uh, maybe if you have a uh, a third
string guy, he might let the second string guy
go four plays, then the third string guy will get
in for the last three...

Jones Yeah.
Page 9 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

Hiser Coach calls ones back up again...I'm not for


sure of the set number of plays that each group
got...around seven or eight...

Jones And, and Max Gilpin is offensive play. Right?

Hiser Yeah. He, he was an offensive lineman.

Jones An offensive lineman. So he's not involved in


your group during this prior training, prior to
seven on seven. Correct?...

Hiser ...No, sir... At this point I, I have...

Jones Is he involved in the seven on seven?

Hiser No, sir.

Jones Okay. Uh, so leading up to the team break,


what time was the team water break?

Hiser The, the team water break that day would have
been uh, right around 5:25...5:26...right around
there.

Jones Okay. And at this group...at this particular


time, did your group and, and more players
walk over to get water?

Hiser Everybody that was involved in the seven on


seven was sent to get water.

Jones Did, were you uh, did you uh, observe any
offensive linemen that were not a part of the
seven on seven get water?

Hiser Not that...not that I'm aware of.


Page 10 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

Jones And what...did you, I mean you didn't notice...

Hiser No, sir.

Jones Did any of your players...any players that were


not involved in seven on seven, did they
remain in the, on the practice field?

Hiser Any players that were not involved in the


seven on seven?

Jones Right. Do they not go to get water? Do they


actually remain on the field at one point?

Hiser Uh, at, if, if we're doin', if this is say the 50-
yard line of the practice field, or the mid-
point...

Jones ...Yes, sir...

Hiser ...seven on seven took place here, down in this


end zone. The offensive and defensive
linemen were workin' together at that point.
Uh, I think...they were, they're usually sent,
sent to get water when seven on seven's o,
over, and I can't speak if every single one of
'em went and got water that day.

Jones And you're not for sure...

Hiser I'm not for sure. No, sir.

Jones Uh, now was anything else goin' on during the,


during the practice? Was any other events
goin' on during that, in that area?

Hiser There was a soccer game.


Page 11 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

Jones Which is adjacent to the foot...soccer, football


field. Correct?

Hiser ...Yes, sir.

Jones And was any other groups there, like, like


spectators or parents, that were observing this
soccer game?

Hiser Yes.

Jones Okay. What about under the tree where the


bleachers are? Uh, was any activity takin'
place up there?

Hiser That, that's normally where the football parents


sit, if any come to watch practice.

Jones Was any other uh, like little leagues, where do


they take the field, anybody else that you can...

Hiser Uh, the little league normally practices right


after us but on that particular day, I'm not, I
can't...I'm not 100% sure if I saw him waitin'.

Jones Okay. Okay...so leading up to the last water


break, uh, coming back after the last water
break you describe, you're not for sure if the
uh, defensive line, linemen got breaks or not, at
that particular time during the team break.
Right?

Hiser Yeah. I'm not 100% sure. No.

Jones Okay. And who calls the uh, when the, when
the team came back, and you said they started
conditioning?
Page 12 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

Hiser Yes, sir.

Jones Now who, whose uh, who called conditioning?

Hiser The head coach.

Jones And Coach...

Hiser Stinson.

Jones Okay.

Hiser Jason Stinson.

Jones And uh, conditioning consists of what?

Hiser Uh, the gassers.

Jones And the gassers are run the width of the field.
Correct?

Hiser Width, it's across the field, back, across the


field and back. So basically it's up and down,
up and down.

Jones Okay. And...

Hiser ...200 yards. Approximately.

Jones Okay. And your position would have been


where when they were running gassers?

Hiser My position would have been in line with the


rest of the team waitin' to run gassers.

Jones Waitin' from, from the startin' side line?

Hiser From the startin' sideline they would have been


Page 13 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

in line uh, waitin' for the, the smaller guys to


be called up to run.

Jones Where were the...where were the defensive


linemen at the time?

Hiser The defensive linemen would have been with


the offensive linemen, running with the same
group as them.

Jones Was any of the coaches with that de...defensive


line?

Hiser They...

Jones ...or, or with that offensive line, was any...are


the coaches kinda spread out?

Hiser Yeah.

Jones Okay.

Hiser The, the coaches are usually kinda spread out.


Uh, like I said, I was on the touch side...

Jones Um-hmm.

Hiser ...the side they're runnin' to...

Jones Um-hmm.

Hiser ...for uh, approximately a few minutes, and,


and then I left, so I, I'm not sure what coaches
were where.

Jones Okay. So you had a prior appointment...

Hiser Prior appointment to leave early.


Page 14 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

Jones So you pro'bly had seen...how many gassers


you, were you there before you left, had to
leave?

Hiser Maybe one...one or two, I'm not even sure if I


was there for a full one.

Jones Okay. And uh, and you're not, you, you didn't
witness, while you were there, any players
becoming ill. Correct?

Hiser No, sir.

Jones Okay. Sgt. Butler?

Butler Uh, a couple questions. When you leave,


where is Coach Stinson?

Hiser Coach Stinson is at the, the starting point


where the gassers start at.

Butler Okay. Coach Donnelly?

Hiser Coach Donnelly was on the touch side.

Butler Okay. Coach Lightle?

Hiser Coach Lightle, I believe, was over there with


me, over on the touch side.

Butler Coach uh, Bobby and Steve Deacon?

Hiser I'm not for sure where they were.

Butler Okay. And Coach Cook?

Hiser I'm not for sure where he was.


Page 15 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

Butler Okay. Uh, if there's an injury to a player,


particularly in the game...

Hiser ...Yes, sir...

Butler ...who would go out to attend to that player?

Hiser Coach Steve Deacon.

Butler Okay. Uh, so he's kind of a medical...lack of a


better term, the one that would kind of pay
attention and...

Hiser Yes, sir.

Butler Okay. And treat the injuries.

Hiser Yes, sir.

Butler Uh, that's all the questions I have.

Hiser Now during a game, actually, Dr. Smith would


go. He's on the sidelines.

Butler So you all have a, an MD...

Hiser ...Yes, sir...

Butler ...for the game.

Hiser On Friday night.

Butler Is he at the practices?

Hiser No, sir.

Jones Uh, and...while running the gassers when you


Page 16 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

were there, they had full gear on?

Hiser Yes, sir.

Jones And, and...and you don't know how long they


ran and...is it a normal...was that day's practice
considered a normals practice or was it, was
somethin', was it uh, were you off schedule
over the practices?

Hiser Uh, the only variation in the schedule was we,


we skipped team period and went on to
conditioning.

Jones Okay. And, and do you know what reason why


that happened?

Hiser Uh, I'm not for sure.

Jones Okay. Okay...uh, and you personally didn't see


any players denied...being denied water.
Correct?

Hiser No, sir.

Jones Okay. You stated that your, your particular


team got at least three water breaks...at least
four, 'cause there was a fourth one as a team.
Correct?

Hiser Yes, sir.

Jones Which was at around 5:25...

Hiser ...Um-hmm...

Jones ...and then after that break uh, came back to


another...on the field, at which time the coach
Page 17 of 17
Statement: Coach Jason Hiser / Case #08197(b)
September 19, 2008

called uh, everyone for conditioning.

Hiser Yes, sir.

Jones And you left shortly thereafter, 5:30.

Hiser Yes.

Jones Okay. Uh, is there anything of


import...anything important that we didn't
cover...anything you wanna add...anything that
I didn't ask you?

Hiser No, sir.

Jones Okay. Mr. Miller, do you have anything?

Miller I have no questions.

Jones Sgt. Butler, follow-up?

Butler I do not.

Jones At this time, we will conclude the tape with


Coach Hiser, and we appreciate your time, and
uh, the time now is 1036 hours.

END OF STATEMENT

File #08197bjones-ks

You might also like