More details have emerged about why a popular Zephyrhills High School football coach was let go last month.
The school says the former coach, Reggie Roberts, who is also a full-time Zephyrhills police officer, wasn't there enough to supervise his players and that led to problems.
Early last month, Roberts was let go as head coach of the Zephyrhills football team after serving six years. His dismissal outraged parents.
At that time, the school principal said they wanted a full-time on-campus coach.
The district says a study hall was created for the football players until Roberts could get there from his day job as a police officer for practice at 4 p.m.
“The teacher has to monitor the study hall, but if these kids are leaving and not responding when told to come back, it becomes a problem, and it did become a problem,” district spokesperson Linda Cobbe said.
Roberts says when he was informed he did discipline the players who were misbehaving.
“During the season there were several players released from the football team who were involved in study hall-related issues,” said Roberts.
But then in September of last year some of his players were accused of something much worse than rowdy behavior.
“A young woman reported a sexual assault, but then recanted those allegations against the football players,” said Cobbe. Zephyrhills Police investigated the incident and presented their case to the State Attorney. The department was informed in December the State Attorney had dropped the charges.
While the district was investigating it said one boy did admit to having consensual sex with the girl during study hall.
This wasn’t why the district dismissed Roberts, but officials say it contributed to the decision because he wasn’t around to supervise.
“I visited the school quite often,” said Roberts. “I visited lunch periods. The kids will tell you - I’m always around campus.”
However, the school didn’t feel that way.
“There are certainly other coaches who work as a supplement coach that don’t teach at school, but in this situation and this team, they need their coach to be on campus,” said Cobbe.
As for Roberts, he says he’ll still be involved.
“I came here to serve and that’s what I did,” said Roberts. “When my services aren’t needed, I’m still going to support the kids any way I can.”
An assistant coach from Sunlake High School, Nick Carroll, will take over as head coach at Zephyrhills High School on Feb. 9.