Adam Brubaker, the head football coach at Royal High School in Simi Valley, California, has been placed on leave after a video surfaced showing him kicking a football into a player's groin during practice. The incident occurred after Brubaker became upset with the player, identified as Julian, for tackling and injuring another player.
In the video, Brubaker can be seen yelling at Julian before approaching him and kicking a football that strikes the player in the groin, causing him to fall to the ground in pain. The school district is expected to decide on Brubaker's employment status on Friday.
Brubaker has stated that he apologized to the player immediately after the incident, and that Julian accepted his apology. He also mentioned that he considered deleting the practice film but decided against it, believing tampering with footage would have been worse.
Brubaker's tenure as head coach at Royal High School began in 2025. The team finished his first season with a record of 3-7. The outcome of the school's review will determine if he will continue in his role for the upcoming season.