Football Coach Fired After Using Homophobic Language, But Still Teaching

Homophobic language was used by a California educator and the high school football coach is still teaching after the anti-gay comment, as per a report by the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

According to the recent report, Morro Bay High School head coach David Kelley allegedly made the offending anti-gay remark in late October to a junior varsity player in the locker room. "JV was sort of messing around and Kelley told them to stop it and get to practice," Rocky Brebes, who witnessed the incident along with another player, recalled. "The student was sitting there and just smiling at Kelley not doing anything like getting going and ready and Kelley got even more mad and said, 'Stop looking at me like a homosexual and get the (expletive) to practice.'"

While Brebes said that he never heard the coach use any homophobic language in the past, it still isn't a good look for the institution. In a letter sent to parents, Morro Bay principal Kyle Pruitt described the scenario as "unfortunate and unacceptable," and explained that the staff had previously received sensitivity training, which is particularly focused on marginalized groups of pupils. Nonetheless, after Kelly was relieved of his coaching duties and replaced by the high school's athletic director, he has still kept his teaching position at the school. 

"Mr. Kelley apologized to the students and impacted families today," Superintendent Eric Prater said. "That is the beginning, I imagine, of Mr. Kelley’s genuine efforts to reconcile his actions with the MBHS community. We've made significant and intentional efforts as a school district to create safer, more inclusive environments for students and staff— especially our more vulnerable populations. This incident shows the distance we still must travel in order to accomplish our goals."

Photo: Getty Images


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