A prominent Florida high school football coach is raising concerns about a fire at his home, saying the timing was suspicious after his family's address circulated publicly.
Venice football coach John Peacock said his family had grown concerned about their safety after his home address circulated publicly amid a sheriff's office investigation.
Peacock's pool house, which is attached to his main residence, caught fire around 8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26. He said he noticed flames approximately 20 feet high while walking through his living room and immediately called 911. The news was reported by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, part of the USA TODAY Network.
My house caught on fire last night. Luckily I noticed it before the entire house burnt down. #IKNOWITWASYOU
pic.twitter.com/YvAD17YB4Q
— John Peacock (@john_p34) October 27, 2026
"My house caught on fire last night," Peacock wrote Tuesday morning on X, sharing photographs of the damage. He ended the post with the hashtag "I KNOW IT WAS YOU."
The fire coming days after his home address circulated was suspicious to Peacock, prompting him to question whether the incidents were connected.
"My family and I were concerned last week and trying to figure out how to protect ourselves," Peacock told the Herald-Tribune. "With my address being shared everywhere and the news outlets, and that was just concerning for my wife and my daughter. And then this happens, and the timing's really, really suspicious."
The Herald-Tribune obtained the affidavit Oct. 14 from a Sarasota County Sheriff's Office investigation involving recorded telephone conversations that were subsequently posted on social media. Investigators found probable cause, linking Peacock to an alleged felony involving the recording of private conversations without consent.
The affidavit included Peacock's home address and was publicly available. USA TODAY NETWORK properties, including the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, did not publish the document.
Peacock has not been criminally charged, according to his attorney, who previously confirmed that no arrest warrant had been issued.
Peacock said he was home alone when the fire started, with his wife and daughter away at dance practice. While speaking with a 911 operator, he used a drink cooler to carry water to the flames, helping contain the fire before the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department arrived approximately five minutes after the call.
Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department Chief Patrick Junius told the Charlotte Sun that the fire was “minor in nature” and firefighters saw no signs of foul play. Peacock, however, said he believed the fire originated outside the structure and spread inward. He acknowledged he was not a fire expert and said the fire department was expected to examine the property to determine its cause.
The fire sent smoke into the main residence, preventing Peacock from returning inside until approximately 11:30 p.m., he said.
"I just got lucky," Peacock said. "I don't even know why I looked out in the back. If not, we would have lost everything. I would've lost our house if I was three minutes late."
Peacock is the longtime head coach at Venice, one of Florida's premier high school football programs. He has led the Indians to three state championships and surpassed 200 career victories at the school earlier this year.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @AlexMartinUSAT 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: Florida high school football coach’s home catches fire. He believes someone started it
