Tony Perkins will not coach the Marion Indians in their football game at Washington (Iowa) on Friday night, athletic director Corby Laube confirmed Thursday afternoon.

Nick Perkins, an assistant coach at Marion and the head coach's brother, also will not coach the team Friday.

Two sources told the Metro Sports Report Wednesday night that Tony Perkins had been suspended and Nick Perkins had been fired due to allegations of verbal abuse in the football program. Laube declined comment on the Perkins brothers and declined to say why they will not be at the game.

Laube said assistant coaches Travis Fuller, Pete Messerli, Josh Busenbark, Travis Stearns, Henry Martinson and Gerald Lowry will run the team Friday night at Washington. Laube declined to name an interim or acting head coach.

Chris Dyer, the Marion superintendent of schools, declined comment on the matter when contacted Thursday morning by the Metro Sports Report, citing confident personnel matters. Marion principal Greg Semler and Tony Perkins also have declined comment.

Perkins answered the phone Wednesday night but had nothing to say. "No, I can't comment on it," he remarked.

The Metro Sports Report received a phone call from an anonymous source Wednesday about the matter, claiming Tony Perkins had been suspended and Nick Perkins fired. A source with knowledge of the Marion football program said he had heard the same information.

Tony Perkins has a 104-52 record in 16 years at Marion High School, which is his alma mater. The Indians finished 1-8 last year and lost their season opener to Mount Vernon, 37-14, Saturday night, for their ninth straight loss.

Perkins is one victory away from tying Les Hipple for the most victories in school history. Hipple compiled a 105-42-10 record in 18 years from 1945 to 1962.

Laube did not say how long the six assistant coaches will be running the team.