Rockwall, Texas – A former high school football coach and his coaching staff are facing serious allegations following a lawsuit from a former player’s mother. The incident centers around what has been described as an intense and harmful workout session that took place in 2023. The lawsuit was filed by Valencia Smith, who claims that excessive punishment meted out by former Rockwall-Heath Hawks head coach John Harrell and his team of assistant coaches led to physical injuries among the players.
According to a report, players were forced to complete more than 400 pushups in a single hour due to minor infractions. This grueling session, which was originally planned as a standard strength training workout, turned into a form of punishment where the coaches penalized players for issues such as wearing incorrect gear or not demonstrating sufficient effort. The situation became serious as an investigation revealed that at least 26 players suffered from rhabdomyolysis, a potentially life-threatening condition where muscle fibers break down and enter the bloodstream.
The investigation produced a report detailing disturbing practices, including a PowerPoint presentation created by Harrell that outlined using pushups as punishment. Furthermore, during private conversations, the coaching staff speculated about potential causes for player injuries, suggesting nutritional supplements were to blame, even though medical findings contradicted this assumption.
Many within the Rockwall-Heath football community reportedly discouraged affected players from stepping forward, while parents feared potential repercussions from seeking justice. Harrell completed his only season with a 7-5 record and had been placed on administrative leave during the investigation before resigning in March 2023.
In addition to Harrell, the lawsuit also names several other defendants including assistant coaches Garret Campfield, Chance Casey, and others. This case has raised numerous questions about player safety and the excessive measures some coaching staff may resort to in the pursuit of performance.
