Mariner High School football coach suspended during investigation into team gathering

A Mariner High School football coach has been suspended as the School District of Lee County investigates an incident that occurred during an overnight team gathering. The player who reported the incident claimed that phones were taken away from the team during the gathering and said he left early after feeling uncomfortable, according to his parents. Many questions remain unanswered, including which coach or how many coaches are being investigated, and the district has not disclosed what allegedly happened. “We were notified by the attorney that there had been a suspension of a coach for an incident that happened with some football players overnight,” Lee County School Board Chair Armor Persons said. “So that's about all that, as far as the details that I really know at this particular time. But we did take the appropriate action and suspended it right away and started an investigation.” Head coach Tyran Jones did not respond to requests for comment regarding the alleged incident. Parents of active players expressed frustration as the school year and football season approach. The district stated, “We will address the situation with the team tomorrow when they return to practice. They deserve to hear from school administrators and not the media about what actions are being taken and why. Once we have advised the team and their parents, we will release a statement.” Parents of both current and former players shared mixed reactions. Some praised Jones and his staff for running a good and fair football program, while others questioned why the incident occurred on school property. Daniel Hoskission, a former opponent of the Mariner football team, said, “I think it's sad. My mom is a school teacher, so I understand they don't make a lot of money as it is. And just to take away the opportunity for that as a coach and as a student, to have that coach there, which I've heard, he's a great coach and I've played against Mariner as a student and it's a good team.” The investigation remains ongoing, and the district plans to provide further updates after addressing the team and their families. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.