A campus security video showed a high school coach kicking a football that hit a player in the groin, and the district fired him hours before the season opener.
Story Snapshot
- Video shows coach Adam Brubaker kick a ball that struck a Royal High player’s groin.
- Simi Valley Unified School District removed and then fired Brubaker before the opener.
- Brubaker admits kicking the ball but says it was an accident and apologized.
- The case highlights fast discipline in the viral-video era and school risk rules.
What the Video Shows and What the District Did
ABC7 reported that a campus camera captured Royal High School head coach Adam Brubaker moving toward a player and kicking a football that struck the student in the groin during practice in Simi Valley, California. The player fell in pain. The Los Angeles Times said the clip led the school to open an investigation as the team prepared for its season opener. Hours later, the Simi Valley Unified School District fired Brubaker, ending his second year as head coach.
USA Today reported Brubaker confirmed his removal, saying, “I got fired,” and that he would “own up” to what he did, while denying that he aimed at the player. Sports Illustrated noted the incident happened on August 19 and that district action followed quickly after the video spread online. The timing shows how districts respond when student safety, public trust, and a viral clip collide the same week games begin.
What Brubaker Says Happened and Why Intent Matters
Brubaker told ABC7 that he was frustrated with a rough tackle during a non-contact drill and kicked a nearby ball; he said the strike to the player was accidental and called it a “one in a million” shot. KTLA reported he repeated that he “never meant to hit him” and tried to apologize after practice. These statements do not dispute the kick or the injury, but they challenge the idea that he intended to target the player.
Intent will matter for any later employment or legal review. But school leaders often separate intent from immediate duty-of-care. A district can remove a coach first to limit risk, then decide longer-term discipline after fact-finding. Prior school cases show that swift personnel steps can precede final conclusions, especially where video suggests unsafe conduct around students. That two-track approach tries to protect kids while administrators gather fuller context.
Why Schools Move Fast in Viral Moments
Sports programs rest on trust. Parents expect firm boundaries, and teens watch how adults handle anger. When video spreads, it can become the public’s entire record. Districts also weigh insurance exposure, state reporting rules, and the duty to prevent harm. Guidance for high school athletics stresses that even a single lapse in judgment with a student can trigger removal while a review runs, to preserve safety and credibility with families.
School district and the now former Royal High School coach in Simi Valley, California can expect a lawsuit. Adam Brubakerare will have the school district assisting the plaintiff against him (the school district helped themselves by immediately firing him). Criminal charges…
— Western Old Timer (@FutureWinsDaily) August 23, 2026
This case taps into broader frustration across the country. Many feel leaders talk tough but dodge real fixes. Conservatives see systems that punish quickly yet ignore deeper discipline problems. Liberals see unequal standards and fear kids caught in power gaps. Both sides agree on one point: public institutions must be transparent, fair, and fast when kids get hurt. Clear policies, released timelines, and open findings can rebuild trust that everyone says is missing.
What We Know Now—and What We Do Not
Facts supported by named outlets are clear: a video shows the kick, the player was hurt, and the district fired Brubaker before the opener. Brubaker admits kicking the ball and says he apologized, but he denies intent to hit the student. We do not yet have a full district investigative report or any court filings. Without those records, questions about policy violations, prior warnings, or final findings on intent remain open.
What Comes Next for Royal High and the Community
Royal High now must stabilize its football program, communicate with parents, and support the student struck by the ball. The district also needs to explain its timeline and the standards it applied. Clear steps could include releasing a redacted summary of findings, setting coach conduct refreshers, and outlining sideline discipline rules. Those moves would show that student safety, not public optics, drove the decision—and help a community move forward with facts, not rumors.
Sources:
thegatewaypundit.com, abc7.com, instagram.com, usatoday.com, bvmsports.com
