TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Maclay School, the Maclay School Foundation and its boys lacrosse coach, William Justin VanTassel, are being sued over alleged physical and mental abuse of a student-athlete, according to the lawsuit.
The Maclay School is a private school in Tallahassee that is located on North Meridian Road. VanTassel is the school’s boys’ lacrosse coach, according to the lawsuit and a U.S. History teacher who’s been employed with the school since 2018, per the school’s website.
The lawsuit alleges that the abuse occurred during the 2024-2025 academic year, during which VanTassel allegedly physically beat and assaulted the athlete two separate times. Records show one happened during practice and another was just before a game. At least one of the incidents was witnessed by the Assistant Coach Peter Plaskey, the lawsuit said.
In one instance, the lacrosse coach “angrily grabbed Plaintiff by his chest pad and shoved him backwards while yelling at him; grabbed his face guard and forcefully shook his head back and forth; and, slapped him across the head while he was wearing his helmet,” per records.
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The student-athlete’s parents were not aware of the abuse until April 2026, but they had felt that VanTassel’s treatment of their son was “extreme and unprofessional,” according to the lawsuit.
Due to said treatment, the athlete’s parents met with the school’s athletic director and lacrosse coach, but it was reportedly to no avail. The parents allege that nothing was done to address the coach’s behavior and the meeting even led to retaliation.
According to the lawsuit, following the meeting, VanTassel entered false negative statistics into MaxPreps on the athlete’s performance during a lacrosse game and the minor’s statistics were the only ones manipulated.
When told about the alleged falsification, the school’s athletic director reportedly told the parents not to contact the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) for fear of the cancellation of all sports for that academic year. The student-athlete’s parents also notified the head of the school, along with the athletic director and “both of them refused to ensure those inaccuracies were corrected.”
The Maclay School and Foundation are being accused of negligence, negligent supervision, negligent retention and intentional infliction of emotional distress for failing to protect their student from abuse. VanTassel is accused of battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, according to the lawsuit.
The student-athlete is expected to continue to “suffer the losses” from the alleged abuse, according to the lawsuit. He transferred to another school in Tallahassee following the 2024-2025 academic school year.
In a statement from Jaeson Homola, VanTassel’s attorney, he confirmed VanTassel has been placed on paid leave.
“At the time the lawsuit was filed, Mr. VanTassel was employed in a teaching role and was not serving in a coaching capacity,” Homola’s statement said. “He has been placed on paid leave.”
VanTassel has denied the allegations, according to his attorney. The full statement can read below:
I represent Mr. VanTassel solely in his personal capacity. I have not been retained by, and cannot speak on behalf of, Maclay School.
At the time the lawsuit was filed, Mr. VanTassel was employed in a teaching role and was not serving in a coaching capacity. He has been placed on paid leave. That is a common and routine practice when allegations are raised through litigation, including in cases where, as here, the accused firmly denies the allegations.
Additionally, before Mr. VanTassel became aware of either the physical abuse allegations or the lawsuit itself, he had already informed the school he would not be returning for the 2026-2027 school year.
Editor’s note: The article has been updated to reflect that William Justin VanTassel was placed on “paid leave” after an updated statement from attorney Jaeson Homola.
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