High school football coach arrested after reportedly punching student athlete during game

An Atlanta high school football coach was escorted off the field by police after he appeared to strike a player during a game and was removed from the facility, according to Atlanta News First.

Mays High School was facing Douglas County in a game that was broadcast on PeachtreeTV, the Atlanta News First app, Roku, FireTV, and Apple TV. The game was part of the Great Atlanta Bash at Eddie S. Henderson Stadium at Midtown High School in Atlanta.

Scenes from the widely watched game were captured from multiple broadcasts as a Mays High School football coach appeared to punch a player in the stomach. The coach was seen yelling at the young player before appearing to strike him with his fist.

The player, wearing number 24, was then seen hunching over in pain before he once again stood upright as the coach continued to yell at him.

The coach was then reportedly removed from the sidelines by an Atlanta Public Schools police officer and taken into custody.

According to an Atlanta Public Schools spokesman, the man was a lay coach, which refers to a coach who is not employed as a teacher at the school and also does not have a teaching certificate.

“A lay coach for Mays High School, who is not a classroom instructor, is in police custody after an incident that occurred on the sideline during the school’s game this afternoon against Douglas County High School,” spokesman Seth Coleman said in a statement to Atlanta News First.

“The safety and well-being of all APS students remains a high priority for the district and all APS employees are held to the highest standard of conduct and professionalism,” the statement continued, according to the New York Post.

“The lay coach will be charged with simple battery and face administrative charges from the district."

Mays also lost the game in question to Douglas County, 48-42.

The incident comes within just a couple of weeks of multiple fights having occurred during Mays High School games. Fox 5 Atlanta reported on a public outcry about the violence, which resulted in an increase in police staffing at the games.

A school official called the security issue a "shared responsibility."

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