High school fball coach fired because of photos sent to girlfriend

[Tank]

From the comments at the bottom of the above link:

OK HERE IS THE INFORMATION EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FOR:
1) I am a recent graduate of Mandarin High School and happen to know Coach Jason Robinson, the 20 yr. old, the 17 yr. old, and their parents personally. (I'm actually REALLY close friends with the 20 yr. old so for her safety and right to privacy i will not release the family's name)

2) The relationship between Coach Robinson and the 20 yr. old DID NOT start while she attended Mandarin. In fact she was seeing another student at that time which actually lasted well into her 1st year of college. She actually did not start "talking" to him until this year and they did not begin actually "dating" up until a few months ago.

3) For those of you hinting at the fact that she still lives at home... Yes, this is true but only for the summer. She attends UCF and is there on a full-ride scholarship so her parents are not actually having to pay for as much as it seems people have been insinuating.

4) Yes, Coach Robinson is considered by many as an attractive man, and the 20 yr. old herself is indeed "young and VERY hot" as some of you alluded to earlier. This is probably another reason why this has gained so much attention.

5) Coach Robinson NEVER sent anything through a school computer or forwarded ANY messages to anyone other than the 20 yr. old. Their relationship was never a secret and they actually tried talking with the girl's parents about it but obviously it was of no avail. The parents actually took her phone from her (which they do pay for) and went through it and that is when they discovered the photos and notified school officials.

6) There is NO case of sibling rivalry and the two girls (the 20 yr. old and the 17 yr. old) are very close sisters. It seems either the media may have added her in just to "spice up" the situation to give it more notoriety.

7) I have talked to many parents and students that still attend the school and it seems almost everyone is highly upset with the way the situation is being handled and are in full support of Coach Robinson. There are a few who question the relationship but the fact of the matter is that they understand that LEGALLY he did nothing wrong and this is a personal matter that should be dealt with in private. I did not play for him but I did have his class and can honestly say he IS a good man and a good coach and had a genuine love for the school and its students and its sad to see his reputation being affected in this manner.




The comments at the bottom of the link have some pretty interesting reading in it.

 

[Tornado man]

How mad would you be at the gf's mother? Talking about being nosy and trying to control things a bit too much!

So if your 20 year-old daughter was dating a 32 year-old man, you wouldn't be on edge? C'mon, be honest.

 

[Mr Janny]

So if your 20 year-old daughter was dating a 32 year-old man, you wouldn't be on edge? C'mon, be honest.

Yeah, as her parent, I would be concerned. I can even see the snooping, although I would hope I would not do that to my own child. The rub, for me, is taking it to the guy's place of employment. It doesn't have anything to do with the school where he works.

 

[alarson]

Yeah, as her parent, I would be concerned. I can even see the snooping, although I would hope I would not do that to my own child. The rub, for me, is taking it to the guy's place of employment. It doesn't have anything to do with the school where he works.

agreed. that, and the school firing him for it, are both over the line.

 

[Me State]

So if your 20 year-old daughter was dating a 32 year-old man, you wouldn't be on edge? C'mon, be honest.

Just because you don't approve of it doesn't mean that you go out and try to ruin someones career or reputation. The girl was an adult. Find a mature way to handle your problems. The mother in this case is a *********.

 

[CycloneErik]

At the same time, if you don't want stuff like this to come back to haunt you, don't do stuff like this.
Not everyone has to expose themselves over a cell phone for romance.

 

[Incyte]

I see two issues here relating to whether he might be able to sue the school:

(1) What are the applicable terms of his employment contact, if any; and
(2) Is Florida a right to work state?

Typically you can be fired for any reason (like smoking on personal time like at Welmark) unless you have a contract that says otherwise.

 

[cycoticfan]

the guy is a tool. He got what he deserves and I think the school probably will settle if he challenges it legally unless their contracts have a moral standards clause (not uncommon).
Good luck coaching again

 

[ItsCyence]

This situation is really being handled the wrong way. If it was by a video and/or pix message on his PERSONAL phone the school doesn't have any gripe. It would be different of he pulled his pants down during class and sang Pants on the Ground in front of everyone. Also, this relationship is legal. Last I checked 20 is considered adulthood. There isn't that much of an age barrier. We live in a world where 60. year olds date 23 year olds. I do see a wrongful termination lawsuit coming into the schools hands and possibly the defamation lawsuit as well. All in all poor handling of this situation by the school and parents.

 

[dmclone]

If everyone got fired for sending a pic of their wang, no one would have a job.

Word

 

[IcSyU]

So if your 20 year-old daughter was dating a 32 year-old man, you wouldn't be on edge? C'mon, be honest.

On edge? Yes. But at the same time, you can't tell your kids what to do until they're 30.

(I have a good friend who is 20 and engaged to a guy who is 30)

 

[IcSyU]

It would be different of he pulled his pants down during class and sang Pants on the Ground in front of everyone.

That should be an automatic raise.

 

[wxman1]

I believe the first post said there is a clause in his contract that basically states he can be fired within the first three years for any reason and he was in his first three years so he has no ability to take any legal action against the school.

 

[3TrueFans]

I don't know if Florida is an At-Will state or a right-to-work state, but if it's At-Wil I don't see how he could sue for wrongful termination.

 

[Mr Janny]

I believe the first post said there is a clause in his contract that basically states he can be fired within the first three years for any reason and he was in his first three years so he has no ability to take any legal action against the school.

That might explain why he's suing his gf's parents rather than the school.

 

[Tedcyclone]

If everyone got fired for sending a pic of their wang, no one would have a job.

AMEN

 

[CloneIce]

People are way too sensitive about sex. These are two consenting adults that did nothing wrong. Just sad.

 

[Trainer]

At what age do you sit back and let your child do what they want and hope that you raised them right? The government has the right to use capital punishment at 18, and you can be drafted at the age of 18, but apparently you cannot choose a person to have a relationship with until.....apparently these parents don't think your mature enough at 20.

In my opinion this is where parents make mistakes(thankfully my parents did not make them with me) if you do not let your kids around the age of 16 start to make their own decisions and pay the consequences of them they will never truly know what life is and how to act responsibly.

 

[BigBake]

I believe the first post said there is a clause in his contract that basically states he can be fired within the first three years for any reason and he was in his first three years so he has no ability to take any legal action against the school.

True...although in this case he has a very good case to prove that the school did fire him for a invalid reason.

The school totally overstepped their bounds (which happens a lot) and the parents really need to get a grip.

 

[cloneatlaw]

True...although in this case he has a very good case to prove that the school did fire him for a invalid reason.

The school totally overstepped their bounds (which happens a lot) and the parents really need to get a grip.

You understand that in an at-will work relationship the only "invalid" reasons for firing someone are race, sex, disability and any other grounds specifically banned by law and that any other ground, including a completely bogus one, is acceptable, right? Otherwise, agree with you -- sounds like this is a stupid reason to fire someone and the mom should probably learn to complain to her adult daughter and not her adult daughter's boyfriend's employer.