Well Tired Teacher, I guess when teachers stop diddling their students, you won't be looked at so funny for hugging them. And maybe you just need some tips in how to be nice while keeping your hands to yourself. It can be done. I know that your "hugs" are probably perfectly innocent, but you don't *need* to be physical to avoid being seen as a meanie. The student that swatted the coach should be reprimanded. But you can't "fire" the kid from school forever, nor should you. It's unfortunate that the coach has lost his job, but he has to take responsibility no matter what for his own actions. I don't believe this is a bad guy, don't get me wrong. With no prior history of this sort of thing, I think it sucks for him really. But the public is hard-pressed to put their trust in teachers/coaches who have a lapse in judgment like this, no matter how reactionary or isolated it may be.