MESA, Ariz. -- A former Mesa high school football coach is under investigation by a Utah university where he worked after losing his job in Arizona.

Southern Utah University is investigating allegations that skills position coach Bernie Busken physically abused two players.

Busken was fired as Mountain View High School's coach in May for violating district policies on inappropriate language and excessive use of athlete-to-athlete physical contact.

He went on to work for Southern Utah. But Busken and others on the Southern Utah staff were fired late last month.

Their dismissal was due to the team's 3-19 record over the last two seasons rather than the allegations against Busken, said Neil Gardner, the university's sports information director.

The investigation centers on an incident in which Busken is accused of stiff-arming a running back on his face mask five days after the player suffered a concussion in a game, Gardner said.

The running back, Cory Ashby, said Busken became unhappy when players were fooling around, walked over to the huddle and "straight-armed me like a punch right in the face mask.''

"He was not punched,'' Busken said Thursday. "I thumped him on the face mask and said, 'Quit it.' My hand was open. It was the soft side of my hand.''

Busken also was accused of slapping defensive back Brandon Perkins in the face while the two rode in an elevator.

Busken confirmed he slapped Perkins but said, "we were horsing around and he kind of ran into one and I apologized to him. I said I'm sorry and he said, 'Don't worry about it coach.'''