CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK)—The Lee County School District placed Mariner High School’s head football coach and assistant coach on administrative leave as it investigates “unacceptable behavior” by some students after a recent team-building activity.
The district shared a letter from Mariner High School Principal Dr. Tom Michel and Athletic Director Joshua Gompper. The school said it relieved Head Coach Tyran Jones and Kaycie Zorbas of coaching duties as it conducts an internal investigation. It also said four assistant coaches who are not district employees were fired.
The letter said there was no hazing after a ‘lock-in,’ despite rampant speculation on social media. But the administrators said there was a lack of supervision from some members of the coaching staff during the lock-in.
The letter some students are facing disciplinary action after “unacceptable behavior” by some students that violated the school’s expectations. It said student privacy laws prevent the disclosure of names or consequences.
“They serve as ambassadors for our school, role models to fellow students, and representatives of our community,” the letter said. “When these expectations are not met, immediate corrective action must be taken.”
WINK News spoke with several players and parents outside the school after practice. The team members did not want to go on camera but said they stand behind their coach.
An equipment manager for the team said the head coach is like a father figure.
“He never put us in like any danger matter or made us think our life was at risk with him, or whatever,” Gariyanie W. said. “He always made sure we was good, always put us before him. So, like all the storylines and stuff, they’re just false.”
WINK News previously spoke with a family member of one of the students, who requested anonymity because they fear retaliation against the student.
The family member said the student attended an overnight football team-building event, where they allege members of the football team sprayed the student with a substance containing urine. The family member also said the student has since transferred to another school.
The district has not confirmed those allegations.
Gariyanie, the equipment manager, said she wasn’t at the lock-in. But she heard only water was involved.
The district said Doug Faasse, a Mariner High teacher and assistant coach who was not at the lock-in, has been named interim head coach.
Assistant Coach Luis Esposito, a teacher at Hector A. Cafferata Jr. who also did not attend the lock-in, will remain on staff alongside new additions Martin Cardenas, Jake Arbuckle, Justin McEwen and Adrian Shipman.
The team was informed of the changes at the start of practice, and the school says it is confident the new coaching staff is prepared and committed to leading with integrity.