Fort Myers High School coach accused of using racial slur

Reporter: Michael Hudak Writer: Paul Dolan
Published: Updated:

An investigation is underway surrounding a Fort Myers High School baseball coach. That’s because an assistant was accused of using a racial slur.

The district won’t say for sure why the head coach has been fired. Parents of the players say it’s because the team was in turmoil.

Alex Carcioppolo, the assistant coach said in a message on Feb. 14, “Happy Valentine’s Day,” and then the racial slur.

The district confirmed with WINK News the coach was removed from his position within 24 hours of that message. Parents of players told WINK News the message was just the tip of the iceberg.

Fort Myers High School. CREDIT: WINK News

Explaining the team had major problems with its coaching staff. The team started the season losing their first seven games. Each loss perpetuated the growing frustration felt by the coaching staff and team.

The district confirmed coach Kyle Burchfield got removed from his head coaching duties at Fort Myers High School on Wednesday, nearly two months after the racial slur incident took place.

Later that day, the team had a baseball game. But, because frustration had reached such a peak, some of the players walked off the field in the middle of the game, leading to the team forfeiting the game.

Parents of players told WINK News the principal of Fort Myers High School told them he would arrange individual meetings with each family on the baseball team to discuss the future of the program. But there is no specific time and place for those meetings for the time being.

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