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'Oh you’ve got to be kidding me': Ex-Panthers coach Andrew Brunette detained for DUI in South Florida

Records indicate that former Florida Panthers coach Andrew Brunette had prior offenses, both of which were related to speeding

BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA: Andrew Brunette, a former head coach of the Florida Panthers, was detained for DUI in South Florida. The incident took place on Wednesday, February 1, in Broward County.

Deputies took Brunette into custody on multiple charges, including DUI and disobeying a stop of a yield sign. He was taken to the Broward Main Jail.

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Andrew guided Florida to its first playoff series victory

After the Panthers parted ways with Joel Quenneville early in the previous campaign, Brunette was named the team's interim head coach. Later, he would guide Florida to its most prosperous season in the history of the team and its first playoff series victory since 1997.

The Panthers later decided against keeping Brunette as head coach and instead chose to hire Paul Maurice. Currently, Brunette works as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils.

Not the first traffic violation

The recent DUI and other charges levied against Brunette are not the first ones in Broward County. Records indicate that Brunette had two more prior offenses, both of which were related to speeding, Local 10 reported.

Andrew was stopped for allegedly driving 27 mph in a school zone in February 2021, but the case was ultimately dropped. In May 2022, he pleaded guilty to driving 58 mph in a 40 mph zone and paid a $260 fine. He was also detained for DUI in the Deerfield Beach region where both incidents took place.

'Are you kidding me?'

As the news trickled in, the internet began reacting to Brunette's arrest with some expressing surprise. "Oh You've gotta be kidding me," said a user while another took a sarcastic dig at the coach saying, "My dude doesn’t even know where the camera is." One said, "I think in the spirit of the Panthers, we should take his arrest record and give it to Paul Maurice instead."

One of the users reacted in anger suggesting the speed limit during a previous violation was a minor mistake, "Florida cops are so crooked…27 in a school zone it’s 25 come on man they got nothing better to do, not like there’s a bunch of daily shootings and stuff going on…oh wait…" Another user again reacted jokingly, "How is Andy slater always the first? Is he everyone’s source for this type of stuff? Lol." One more said, "Average Florida Man." "Are you KIDDING me." said another.