Eva-Marie Ayala of the Dallas Morning News — an investigation into the Plano East (Texas) Senior High School baseball team found the coaching staff used racist remarks and allowed players to hold an annual “fight club” in the batting cages.
Two Plano East Senior High baseball coaches subjected their team to racist comments and belittled injured students, according to a school district investigation that also found players participated in an annual “fight club.”
Details about the fight club came to light after parents’ complaints led to a wide-ranging investigation of head coach Travis Collins and assistant coach Reagan Allen. Both have been on paid administrative leave since August.
According to documents released to The Dallas Morning News this week, students reported the coaches often made demeaning comments about them, especially after players were injured.
“It was as if it was just a game to the coaches to see who could dish out the funniest nickname or phrase to ridicule the hurt player,” one student said during the investigation.
The coaches’ lawyer said they “vehemently deny” the allegations against them.
“They have dedicated their lives to the game they coach and to developing players through positive example and influence,” attorney Giana Ortiz said.
Coaches claimed to not know about the fight club — despite it being promoted on social media — and players showing up to classrooms with bruised knuckles and black eyes.