A Florida high school assistant football coach was fired after video showed him punching one of his team’s teenage players in the middle of a game last Friday night.
The coach, who has not yet been identified, was fired after a video of the shocking incident was posted on X by former NFL player Kevin Hobbs and went viral.
The player from Tampa-area Jesuit High School – a private Catholic school – appears to run to the sideline as the team tries to make a late substitution.
As he reaches the sideline, the assistant coach clearly hits the boy on the helmet.
The role of a “coach” goes beyond training young athletes to become great soccer players. It’s about shaping them into exceptional individuals within our society. “You should NEVER reach a point where you feel it necessary to engage in it,” Hobbs wrote.
A Florida high school assistant football coach was fired after he was seen on video punching a teenage player on his own team in the middle of a game last Friday night
As the video continues – which Hobbs punctuated with “#shameful” – the coach continues to walk toward the student and yell at him for several seconds.
The coach then leaves player number 94 and begins yelling at another group of players who were about to be substituted on the field. It is unclear what exactly angered the assistant coach.
The hit occurred during a heated rivalry game between Jesuit High School and Tampa Catholic, which Jesuit won 66-35.
Jesuit coach Matt Thompson did not comment on the incident when asked about it after the game, only telling reporters that “the matter is being addressed,” according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The coach is a part-time employee of the school and was fired by the team following the incident Sunday night.
Jesuit High School President Reverend Richard Hermes explained the incident in conversation with parents and families in attendance.
“The coach’s behavior contradicts what the school stands for and is completely at odds with the expectations we have of coaches, facilitators and teachers who are supposed to be role models and mentors to our students in their development as young men,” Hermes wrote .
The school noted that the player was not injured and the student and his family have been in contact with the school since the incident.
The player from Tampa-area Jesuit High School – a private Catholic school – appears to run to the sideline as the team tries to make a late substitution
“We met with the coach and informed him that he will no longer coach Jesuit football or assist the school in any other capacity,” Hermes added.
“Jesuit’s mission is to provide Christian education and training to our students.”
“To do this, we must create an environment for them that is safe, supportive and conducive to their well-being and growth.” “This standard applies to all activities inside and outside the classroom.”
He ended the letter by saying the school would conduct a comprehensive review of internal procedures and staff training.
It is unclear whether the coach will face legal action as a result of the hit.
Videos of violence at football games – from youth to NFL games – have gone viral on social media in recent weeks.
In one incident, a Los Angeles Raiders fan was punched and thrown down the stairs by a Los Angeles Chargers supporter
On Saturday, a member of the Texas Southern University marching band was filmed punching a fan in the stands.
The video shows the fan screaming at the band player while the musician hits the viewer four times with a tuba. It’s unclear what led to the argument in the viral video.
At the NFL level, the Giants, 49ers, Bengals, Commanders, Rams, Broncos, Ravens and Seahawks have all experienced dire scenes – in the stands or around the stadium – that went viral.
A 53-year-old New England Patriots supporter died after being punched by a Miami Dolphins fan – but an autopsy revealed that Dale Mooney may have succumbed to a “medical issue.”
In a statement to Mail Sport, the NFL said: “Our top priority is the safety of the more than one million fans who attend games each week.” “We regret the activities of a handful of fans that interfere with the enjoyment of others.”
A recent survey found that nearly 40 percent of NFL fans have witnessed crime in or around an NFL stadium; around one in 14 people was a victim themselves. Nowhere did fans experience more unrest (63 percent) than at Lincoln Financial Field – home of the Philadelphia Eagles. The most commonly observed crime? Physical violence.