A California high school football coach was fired hours before their season-opening game on Friday, Aug. 21.
Adam Brubaker of Royal High was let go from his position following an incident in which he kicked a football at a player during a practice while being visibly frustrated. The footage was caught on the team's Hudl video system and showed the player being hit in the groin and buckling over.
"I got fired," Brubaker told the Ventura County Star."It is what it is."
Brubaker said he was addressing a player who had tackled a teammate during a non-contact period when he kicked a football laying at his feet. He said it was "an accident."
“There was a football in front of me,” Brubaker said. “I was pissed. I wanted to kick the football all the way
to Royal Avenue. Instead, it hits (the player). It was an accident. I didn't mean to hit him.”
Brubaker was told not to return to campus on Thursday and was then informed of his release during a meeting at the Simi Valley Unified School District on Friday morning.
“I’m not going to destroy evidence,” Brubaker said. “I did what I did, I’m going to own up for it.”
The program went 3-7 a season ago, which was his first full season leading the program after being a co-coach at nearby Panorama High. Leading the team in the interim is assistant coach Cody MacArthur.
Despite the adversity the team had faced, that didn't stop them from routing North Hills Monroe (CA) in Week 1 with a 62-0 win.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California high school football coach fired after kicking football at player
