A Texas mother has filed a lawsuit against her son’s former football coach, claiming that the intense workout he made the players undergo resulted in her child being hospitalized with a severe medical condition that could have been life-threatening.
Former Rockwall-Heath High School coach John Harrell and a group of assistant coaches are facing a lawsuit filed against them. The lawsuit claims that on January 6, 2023, the coaches made players perform almost 400 push-ups within an hour, without allowing any breaks for rest or water, as reported by the Rockwall County Herald Banner.
The coaches reportedly employed a demanding workout as a means of disciplining the players for their perceived lack of “hustle” during games and for violations of the uniform code.
According to reports, the intense workout took a toll on the boys, resulting in the diagnosis or symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, also known as “rhabdo.” This condition, which can be potentially fatal, causes the breakdown of muscle tissue and the release of muscle fiber contents into the bloodstream.
According to Fox 4, the mother stated that her son was hospitalized for a week.
According to Mike Sawicki, the parent’s attorney, if his client’s son had not received treatment, he could have experienced kidney failure and suffered significant potential harm.
According to Sawicki, this is not your typical stubbed toe or feeling a bit winded after running sprints. It’s a serious injury that can have long-term effects on your life, and it’s not something you can simply tough out.
Coach Harrell developed a program that mandated push-ups as a consequence for various minor infractions.
Harrell faced administrative leave from the school situated approximately 25 miles east of Dallas after the January 2023 accusations. Two months later, he made the decision to step down as coach.
The lawsuit mentions information from a previously undisclosed report by the district.
According to the Rockwall County Herald Banner, an investigation uncovered evidence of coaches discussing students’ injuries through private messages. In these conversations, there were hints suggesting that the injuries could be attributed to nutritional supplements.
According to the confidential report, certain coaches were accused of deliberately working to undermine the credibility of the injured players.
According to some parents, their children experienced bullying at school, seemingly as a means to discourage them from discussing the injuries they sustained during the workout.
According to Sawicki, the former coach, Harrell, has settled two lawsuits with other parents whose children were impacted by the workout, even though no formal criminal charges were ever filed against him.
In the recent lawsuit filed against Harrell, his former assistant coaches, Chadrick A. President, Seth McBride, Lucas Lucero, Joshua Rohmer, Chance Casey, Cody Monson, Jake Rogers, Joseph Haag, Garret Campfield, Alex Contreras Brody Trahan, and Jordan Wallace, have been named for the first time. It’s worth noting that they were not mentioned in the previous two lawsuits.
According to Sawicki, he added a dozen assistant coaches this time after discovering their active involvement during the intense workout. However, he does not think that they were aware of the potential risks they were subjecting their players to by making them do push-ups.
According to the lawyer, the reason behind the lack of understanding or disregard for the available data is the failure to ask the appropriate questions.
Sawicki’s law firm was also hired to investigate the allegations, and they discovered that the student’s injuries were caused by inappropriate workouts.
According to the lawsuit, the school athletic director cautioned coaches against using physical exercise as a form of punishment, highlighting the potential for significant legal repercussions and consequences.
The coaching staff, reportedly, disregarded the warning.
According to Sawicki, the alleged purpose behind all of this was to instill discipline in the students.