OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — An Osceola County high school coach has been benched after accusations that he inappropriately touched and texted his female players, but he is still allowed to teach.
Eric Trowbridge, a volleyball coach at Harmony High School, was removed from his coaching position after the accusations.
Osceola County School District investigators said they had written complaints that Trowbridge repeatedly slapped players on the backs of their thighs and made comments about the buttocks and breasts. There were also allegations that he sent inappropriate texts to his teenaged players, including some from a hot tub.
Trowbridge told Channel 9's Kenneth Craig that his attorney advised him to not do an interview with Craig. However, in an exchange of texts with Craig he denied the allegations.
In the texts Trowbridge said his text messages were "taken out of context." He said his alleged comments about the students' bodies were "in a joking manner." And he said the alleged slapping was a form of "allowed hazing."
After a report by investigators was released Trowbridge was given a written reprimand and removed from coaching, but will be allowed to keep his teaching position.
District officials told Trowbridge if he get in the same type of trouble again he could lose his teaching job.