The man accused of killing Ed Thomas, the 2005 NFL High School Coach of the Year, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in Parkersburg, Iowa.
Thomas was fatally shot on June 24 in front of about 20 students in the weight room of Aplington-Parkersburg High School.
Mark Becker, a 24-year-old former player, pleaded not guilty to killing Thomas in a written plea Thursday.
Online court records show that Becker demanded a speedy trial, which means he will have to stand trial within 90 days. No trial date was immediately set.
Becker remains in the Cerro Gordo County jail on $1 million cash bond.
Thomas coached for 34 years in the community about 80 miles northeast of Des Moines and mentored four players who currently are in the NFL -- Green Bay Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman, Jacksonville Jaguars center Brad Meester, Detroit Lions defensive end Jared DeVries and Denver Broncos center Casey Wiegmann. All four players served as pallbearers at Thomas' funeral last month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
