Former Hermantown Coach Pleads Not Guilty to Providing Alcohol to Minors

A Hermantown High School assistant golf coach accused of providing alcohol to minors while in Shakopee for the state golf tournament has pleaded not guilty, according to a report in the Duluth News Tribune.

In Scott County Court, Kyle Gordan Ernst, 26, is facing one count of gross misdemeanor furnishing alcohol to someone under the age of 21.

say Ernst purchased alcohol for minors on the Hermantown high school golf team after they lost the state tournament by one stroke in June. Ernst reportedly told police he wanted the team to have a "good time" and admitted he went to the store and purchased wine coolers and beer for them.

According to court documents, several members of the team failed alcohol breath tests. The complaint says surveillance video from  shows Ernst buying $62 of alcohol, including Bud Light, Mike’s Hard Lemonade and Michelob Golden Light. After paying for it, police say the video shows the clerk helping him carry the items to a van.

Hermantown was participating in the Minnesota State Golf Tournament in Jordan, finishing second as a team in Class AA.

The Hermantown School Board fired Ernst as assistant golf coach and accepted the resignation of head golf coach Cliff Ashby after the criminal charge was filed.

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