The Clearwater Catholic Central High School wrestling coach charged with battery may have a history of similar behavior.

Scott Stern, 45, is accused of inappropriately punishing two teenagers on his team.

In one incident, investigators say Stern made a teen strip down naked, then grabbed the boy’s neck and groin. In another incident, investigators say Stern made another teen take off his clothes, then hit him on the backside with a ruler.

Students leaving class Wednesday said they were shocked by the accusations.

"He seemed like a really nice guy,” said student David Warner. “I didn't think he would do something like that."

Now, Bay News 9 has learned Stern was accused of similar behavior while working at another school.  

According to a report made by Pinellas Park Police in 1999, a student athlete at Pinellas Park High School accused Stern of making him stand naked while holding a ruler over his head as a punishment for smoking a cigarette.

In the incident report, Stern wrote his own account of what happened. He said he didn’t remember if the student had been naked at the time of the punishment and he was trying to prove a point. 

“I don’t believe I did anything unprofessional,” Stern said. “I sincerely hope I did not make his problems worse or at least that was not my intentions.”

Stern was a volunteer with the Pinellas Park High School wrestling team at the time and prosecutors never pursued charges. 

As a result, the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg said the claims never showed up when school officials ran a background check on Stern 2001 and again in 2006.

Diocese spokesperson Frank Murphy said if school officials had received a negative reference from Stern’s previous employer, they never would’ve hired him.

Bay News 9 reached out to Pinellas Park High School officials but have yet to hear back.

The Pinellas County School District did confirm Stern’s employment record. Despite the incident reported in 1999, Stern went on to employment at Pinellas Park High School from 2000 to 2003.  Stern then resigned amidst an investigation into claims he medically treated members of the wrestling team without a license. 

Stern’s attorney, Rex Blake, said his client resigned from his position at Clearwater Central Catholic School earlier this month and will be pleading not guilty to the most recent battery charges.

“We look forward to vigorously representing him against these accusations and he’s excited to restore his reputation,” Blake said.