ALBERT LEA — A former Albert Lea girls’ hockey coach on Tuesday pleaded guilty in Freeborn County District Court to one count of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor.

Paul Anthony Willett, 43, of Albert Lea, initially faced one count of felony domestic assault by strangulation and one count of misdemeanor domestic assault tied to a reported assault of his wife in November.

The plea was classified as an Alford plea, in which a defendant maintains his innocence but admits the prosecution has enough evidence to convict, usually of stiffer penalties.

Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson said the plea agreement was based on what he anticipated the testimony would be if the case were to be presented in court. Nelson said it is unclear what happened.

Initial court documents alleged Willett and his wife were in an argument at their home at the 2700 block of Sunset St. when Willett placed a hand around her throat.

Willett acknowledged to police that he and his wife were in an argument but denied that the agreement turned physical, according to court records.

He had just returned home from drinking in downtown Albert Lea.

He was placed on paid administrative leave following the incident, but on March 17 the Albert Lea school board voted to not renew his contract as a coach.

Willett started in Albert Lea as the girls’ hockey coach in 2010 and coordinated the Mite program for children age 9 and younger. He was also a director for the Albert Lea Hockey Association, the ice scheduler and a member of the Hockey Advisory Committee. He was the first coach of the now-defunct Junior A hockey team Albert Lea Thunder but quit once he learned of a pay-to-play program started by the owner.

He is slated to be sentenced Sept. 25.