Muir High Coach to Face Probe : Prep basketball: Parents of two players allege that Moore physically abused their sons.

Bill (Rocky) Moore, boys’ basketball coach at Pasadena Muir High, was put on paid administrative leave, effective Tuesday, while district officials investigate charges he physically and verbally abused two of his players.

The allegations were made by the parents of the two players at a Pasadena Unified Board of Education meeting Tuesday night.

Rudy Lamar and Larry Smith told the board that Moore, a health and physical education teacher, had abused their sons, Bradley Lamar and Lavon Smith, juniors at Muir.

Larry Smith cited a videotape shot last June during a summer league game warm-up as evidence of Moore’s violent actions.

The videotape was not shown at the school board meeting. Smith’s parents showed it to a Times reporter Tuesday night.

The videotape is of a scrimmage in which Moore is playing on one squad and Lavon Smith on another. During a layup, Moore appears to be kicking Smith in the face. Later, while inbounding the ball, Moore appears to be elbowing Smith in the face. The videotape also appears to show Moore punching Smith’s chest.

“Our son was subject to a vicious attack by a teacher as five other teachers stood by and watched what happened,” Smith said.

Smith said the videotape, shot by an unidentified former student, came to his attention only three weeks ago. Smith said he was not at the June practice and was not aware the incident had been taped until it was given to him at a recent Muir-Pasasdena High game. Smith said he took the matter to the board after Gary Talbert, Muir’s principal, did not take action. Talbert could not be reached for comment.

Vera Vignes, Pasadena Unified superintendent of schools, said an internal investigation is under way. Smith said that Vignes has seen the tape and that police also have a copy of it.

Tracy Webb, city prosecutor, said the Pasadena Police Dept. has investigated the videotaped incident and submitted a report. Webb said her office has not decided whether to file charges.

Moore, Muir’s coach for the last three seasons, declined to comment on the allegations. He is on leave from his teaching duties as well as coaching.

Lavon Smith and Bradley Lamar continue to play on the team, which leads the Southern Section’s Pacific League and is ranked No. 11 in the Southland by The Times.

Moore did not coach the team’s victory over Glendale on Tuesday night and probably will not be allowed to coach the regular-season finale Friday night against Crescenta Valley.

Moore has been replaced by assistant Robert Webb and junior varsity coach Tom Staltzstein.