Coach Dismissed After Practice Incident

Simi Valley, California, high school football coach Adam Brubaker has been fired following an incident during practice in which he kicked a football that struck a student-athlete in the groin. The dismissal was confirmed by the Simi Valley Unified School District after reviewing school surveillance footage, as reported by Eyewitness News.

The video, captured on school grounds, shows Brubaker appearing visibly frustrated as he approached a player. He then kicked a nearby football, which struck a student in the groin, sending him to the ground. The footage also appears to show several other adults rushing toward the player and confronting Brubaker while the student received attention.

The decision came only a few hours before Royal High School was scheduled to open its season on Friday.

Brubaker Calls It an Accident

Brubaker has spoken publicly about the incident, describing it as an accident. He told Eyewitness News, "I kicked the ball, and it hit him in the groin area, and instantly I felt like I was going to pass out." He expressed remorse, calling it a "one in a million shot." According to reports from KABC, he also described the incident as "a total accident and a complete fluke."

Brubaker explained that he became upset after seeing a player violate team practice regulations by violently bringing a running back to the ground. He said he does not allow such moves during drills because of the injury risk. Brubaker reiterated that his intention was not to hit the player, and he apologized to the student after practice. "When we finished practice, I went back over to him. I apologized," Brubaker said.

Despite maintaining the kick was accidental, Brubaker accepted the district's decision to terminate him. He told Eyewitness News, "Nothing has been harder in my life than the last three days. It has been an absolute trying time for me, my wife, my kids."

Program Transition and Next Steps

Following the dismissal, Brubaker's picture was removed from Royal High School's football staff page, which now shows a "Vacant" slot. Assistant coach Cody MacArthur is expected to serve as head coach when the team hosts North Hills-Monroe on August 21.

Principal Reina Zapata announced that an interim head coach "will be named shortly." In a statement to football families, the school emphasized its focus on supporting student-athletes and providing stability for the program.

Brubaker, who was in his second year as head coach, said he accepted the district's decision.