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Pine-Richland coach arrested on charges of having sexual relationship with player

KDKA-TV

Pine-Richland coach arrested on charges of having sexual relationship with player

The girls varsity basketball coach at Pine-Richland High School was arraigned Friday on charges that he had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 16-year-old player.

Cliff Foster, 33, is charged with institutional sexual assault and corruption of a minor and was taken to the Allegheny County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail. The Pine-Richland School District has suspended him and released a statement to parents saying the incident was thought to be an isolated case.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled at 9 a.m. Oct. 28 before District Judge William Wagner in McCandless.

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Northern Regional police Chief Robert Amann said police began investigating after a representative from the Allegheny County Department of Human Services' Office of Children, Youth and Families called Thursday to say the office had received a report of a possible inappropriate relationship between a high school student and Mr. Foster.

Cliff Foster
Andrew Goldstein
Former Pine-Richland coach accused of sexual relationship with girl to stand trial

The teenager, referred to in an affidavit as Jane Doe, told authorities that she met Mr. Foster two or three years ago while he was coaching at Pine-Richland. She started playing for the Pittsburgh Rise Amateur Athletic Union basketball club, which Mr. Foster established, a year ago.

The girl told authorities that she and Mr. Foster would meet for lunch, meet early in the mornings before school for practice, and talk about basketball on the phone. 

“Jane Doe felt that she could tell Foster anything and would relate to Foster more than any other friend,” the affidavit said.

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Pittsburgh Rise had six teams last season from fifth grade through 11th grade. Mr. Foster coached the 10th and 11th graders last spring and summer and the team sometimes traveled to tournaments around the country.

The relationship began in April and ended on Monday, Chief Amann said.

According to the affidavit, the relationship continued during basketball trips to Florida, Chicago, Kentucky, Washington, D.C. and Ohio. Mr. Foster and the teenager would stay in hotel rooms together and engage in sexual activity, while the other girls would be in separate rooms or with their families, the affidavit said.

Last weekend, the two went alone to Philadelphia to look at universities, staying in hotels and engaging in sex acts, the affidavit said.

Mike Manko, spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., said the office had been in touch with the U.S. Attorney's Office concerning Mr. Foster's possible violation of the Mann Act, a federal law that makes it illegal to transport women across state lines for "immoral" purposes.

In a statement, Pine-Richland superintendent Brian R. Miller said the district learned of the CYF report on Thursday and was conducting its own investigation. The statement said Mr. Foster was employed “solely as

"The district is shocked by the nature of the allegations," the statement said in part. "... We strongly value the importance of ethical behavior and the responsibility of working with young people. We cannot emphasize enough the district's priority of providing a safe and secure environment for all."

In addition to being the varsity girls coach at Pine-Richland, Mr. Foster also coached junior varsity and eighth-grade girls, the affidavit said.

A standout basketball player during his days at Knoch High School, Mr. Foster went on to play at La Roche College. He is member of the La Roche College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Madasyn Czebiniak, mczebiniak@post-gazette.com, Molly Born, mborn@post-gazette.com. Mike White contributed.

First Published: October 16, 2015, 7:32 p.m.
Updated: October 17, 2015, 3:00 a.m.

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