Parents Accused Me Of Hitting Their Kid

Location: AL, USA

I’m an assistant high school wrestling coach (contracted, not a teacher or school employee) and at a tournament Saturday during the national anthem I saw two of my wrestlers goofing of and being disrespectful. As soon as it was over I stepped down the bleachers to them and one had sat down so I grabbed the shoulder of his sweatshirt, not his body, and tugged up and told him to stand up. I then proceeded to tell both of them that if I ever caught them being disrespectful during the national anthem again I’d boot them off the team. An hour or more later kid A’s dad comes up to me and asks if I have a problem with his child, did I put my hands on his kid, etc. I walk into a hallway with him and explain exactly what happened. He’s all pissed and saying I shouldn’t be putting my hands on his kid etc. I tell him he needs to correct his kids behavior and walk away. Kid A’s mom is a school secretary and I’ve been told she called the Athletic Director and said “Coach X hit my son”. AD calls teacher sponsor who calls head coach and teacher sponsor comes to talk to me. Tell him exactly what happened and try to let it go.

Today I find out from my head coach that parents A approached parents B and said Coach X hit your kid too and you should join us in bringing it before the school board. Parents B refuse saying that is not what child B said happened. (I’ve asked Parents B to email me a statement about this interaction with Parent A)

Head Coach has my back. I’m an upstanding citizen. Been an assistant coach for 4 years. I dont know if it was kid A who said I hit him or another parent who saw something and thought it was more than what it was etc. no idea. Several of the kids that were nearby corroborate my version exactly. There were other adults around and the ones I’ve asked didn’t see anything. It was literally a crowded gym in the bleachers.

There is other background info for possible motive with parents A but bottom line I don’t hit kids. I’m pissed I’m being accused of a crime and wondering what actions I can/should take.