Former Beachwood Lacrosse Coach Charged With Drug Felonies

Beachwood High School's 2013 boys' lacrosse coach was arrested last month on drug felony charges.

Ryan DeMassimo, 24, of Hudson, coached the club sports team for the spring season, district spokesperson Doug Levin confirmed.

DeMassimo was charged in Summit County Common Pleas Court with deception to obtain a dangerous drug, illegal processing of drug documents and forgery, all felonies, after police said he tried to get Adderall, a stimulant used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD, with a fake prescription at a Twinsburg Walgreens.

The date of the offense in the indictment is July 3 — weeks after the boys' lacrosse season ended.

DeMassimo has been arrested once before, according to Berea Municipal Court records. 

On June 2, 2012, DeMassimo was arrested and charged with a DUI and minor moving violations, but all the moving violations were dropped and the DUI amended to physical control. On June 4, 2012, he was charged with a drug possession charge that was later dismissed.

Beachwood City Schools conducts background checks on each coach it hires, and is required by law to repeat background checks every five years. Levin said that a DUI or physical control conviction would not necessarily bar a candidate from being employed at the district.

DeMassimo was first hired as an assistant coach in February 2012, and his background check came back clean on Feb. 7, Levin said. He was hired as head coach for the 2013 season in February of that year.

All sports coaches in the district enter into a limited contract that is non-renewed at the end of each sports season, and the district decides whether to hire them back each year.

DeMassimo is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 21.

DeMassimo could not be reached for comment, and a message was left with his lawyer.