Al Pupunu, the tight ends coach for the University of Idaho football team, has pleaded innocent to a misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly hitting a teenage boy on June 1 at his Moscow home.
Moscow Police reported that a witness said Pupunu hit the teenage boy with an open hand, knocking him unconscious and causing his eyes to roll to the back of his head. When Moscow Police arrived, the report states that Pupunu was agitated officers were in his home and was uncooperative, first telling police that he struck the boy on the arm. Pupunu indicated to officers that he wanted to talk with a sergeant and, when one finally came, Pupunu reportedly admitted to hitting the boy in the face.
Al Pupunu
Pupunu’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 22.
“We are aware of this family situation and will allow the investigation process to be completed before we take definitive action,” the University of Idaho’s athletic department said in a statement.
Drafted by the San Diego Chargers out of Weber State University in 1994, Pupunu spent nine seasons in the NFL and played for the Chargers, Jets, Chiefs and Lions, before he retired in 2000.
Pupunu, a native of Tonga, came to Idaho in 2010 after spending the previous two seasons at Southern Utah University. He was the only coach from Robb Akey’s staff to be retained when Paul Petrino took over the Idaho football program in 2013.
This would be his fifth year with the Vandal football team.
Editor’s Note: The charges against Al Pupunu were dropped in November 2014.