High School Basketball Coach Put on Leave After Video Appears to Show Him Head-Butt Referee

— -- A high school basketball coach in Pennsylvania has been placed on administrative leave after he was seen on video getting into a physical confrontation with a referee during a game Tuesday night, school officials said today.

In the video, Jerry Devine, head coach of the boys' basketball team at Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, appears to head-butt a referee, knocking him to the ground.

Devine confronted the referee after he disagreed with a foul call as his team was losing to Pennsbury High School 46-42 with 40 seconds left in the game, the Associated Press reported. Pennsbury ended up winning the game 49-42.

After the physical confrontation, Devine was ejected from the game and is automatically suspended for the school's next game, Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Associate Executive Director Melissa Nash Mertz told ABC News today. The referee was not injured and was able to officiate the remainder of the game, she said.

Officials at the school's athletic program were "just as shocked as anyone," Nash Mertz said.

"[Devine] is a very respected individual that had a bad moment," she said.

The Neshaminy School District released the following statement today. "Mr. Devine has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of that review for both his teaching and coaching positions. The athletic program at Neshaminy places the values of fair play and sportsmanlike conduct above all. We expect our coaches and staff to teach and uphold those principles, while acting in a professional manner at all times."

If the school district feels the school did not take appropriate action, there is a possibility that Devine could be removed from coaching for up to a year or more, Nash Mertz said. Devine also teaches algebra and history at the school, according to the Associated Press.

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association also noted in a statement today that it has "received the disqualification report from the official and we have contacted the school and the contest officials regarding this game."

"The coach is minimally disqualified from the next game and the school has been notified to report what additional corrective actions and penalties they will take in regard to this unacceptable act," the PIAA added in its statement. "The safety of players, officials and team personnel is our highest priority. Actions such as this will not be tolerated. We will monitor this situation to ensure safety of all participants."

In the disqualification report, the referee told officials that the coach made contact with both the right side of his head and his chest, Nash Mertz said

Devine did not immediately respond to requests for comment from ABC News.