This story was updated to include information from the Lee County School Board meeting on Oct. 7.
A Lee County School District investigation determined that former Cape Coral High School football coach Tyler Murphy had sex with the parent of a player on school grounds, which prompted his resignation in September.
The school was alerted to the relationship in August when the parent sent an email detailing the allegations to Cape Coral principal Ryan Jackson. The News-Press is not identifying the parent to protect the identity of her son, who is a minor.
Tyler Murphy, Cape Coral football
On Sept. 9, one day before Murphy’s resignation, the parent and her attorney met with representatives from the district’s office of professional standards. She supplied text message conversations with a number verified to be Murphy’s personal cell phone, which showed evidence that the two engaged in sexual activity at Cape High.
The 33-year-old Murphy, who was a probationary district employee, emailed his resignation to Jackson on Sept. 10, citing “personal circumstances.” That evening, Murphy, who was also a physical education instructor at Cape Coral, sent a follow-up email to Jackson withdrawing his resignation because “the decision was made under pressure during a difficult situation.” The district denied his request to rescind his resignation.
Murphy did not respond to a message seeking comment on Oct. 7.
Earlier: Cape Coral football coach Tyler Murphy resigns; Former Gator Jaylen Watkins named interim
During the Lee County School Board meeting on Oct. 7, board members unanimously approved a number of personnel decisions, including Murphy’s resignation. A gathering of Cape Coral high school football players and parents attended the meeting, with several speaking to the board members about their desire for him to return to lead the program.
“It just baffles me how this man is being treated,” said Jeff Miller, father of a Cape Coral football player. “Did he make a mistake? Probably he did, but it wasn’t towards these kids. These kids love this man … and I just ask you to reinstate him immediately so he can join these seniors to continue on what they’re doing this year.”
Cape Coral High School parents and football players stand during a School Board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025. They were supporting Cape Coral football coach Tyler Murphy, who resigned.
The News-Press obtained hundreds of pages of text messages between Murphy and the parent dating back to October 2024. The parent told The News-Press her relationship with Murphy, a former University of Florida quarterback, began in August of last year, the same month he became the Seahawks’ head coach. Murphy ascended to the position following the resignation of Isaac Harvin, who was being investigated for inappropriate calls and texts with female students.
The parent said she began trying to end the relationship in December because she realized the situation could pose problems for her son. Murphy seemed to recognize how the relationship impacted his approach to her son, admitting in a text message from last October that he broke one of his rules by giving her son an extra pair of shorts for free because of her.
The parent said Murphy continued to pursue her, and it wasn’t until July that she firmly expressed she was no longer interested in him.
Former Cape Coral High School football coach Tyler Murphy’s resignation email which cites personal circumstances as the reason behind his decision to leave his job at the school.
The parent said Murphy stopped talking to her son, and he was benched. That’s what prompted her to bring the matter to the school district, a process that she said has been difficult for both her and her son.
“In the past 42 days, I’ve lost over 20 pounds, I’ve wound up in the ER,” she said. “My son, he’s still benched. He’s ostracized. This year should have been super fun for him, and instead it’s been overshadowed by a coach who turned his back on him and benched him because of a personal relationship between adults.”
The parents said that the fact that Murphy is no longer Cape Coral’s coach doesn’t bring her any joy or satisfaction. She said she’s stopped attending Seahawks games because she was being harassed in the stands following his resignation.
“I’m honestly heartbroken that he isn’t the person he says he is because he preaches integrity and leadership and amazing core values,” she said. “… But that’s not who he is in real life, and that is absolutely heartbreaking to me because if he could have been who he says he is for these boys, that’s what they deserved and that’s what they needed.”
Last year, Murphy helped guide Cape Coral to an 8-2 finish and the program’s first district championship since 2011. Under Murphy, the Seahawks won 11 of their 13 games and had transformed into one of Lee County’s top teams. In the five seasons before Murphy’s arrival, Cape Coral had a combined record of 12-35.
Under interim head coach Jaylen Watkins, the Seahawks are 7-0 this season and clinched their second consecutive district title with a 30-7 win over Mariner on Oct. 3.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral coach Tyler Murphy resigned after sex with player’s mom reported