A California high school football program was thrust into controversy this week when its head coach, Adam Brubaker, was terminated just days before the team's season‑opening game.
On‑field outburst captured on video
Footage from a practice session on August 21, 2024, shows Brubaker striking a teammate in the groin with a football after a hard tackle on another player during a non‑contact drill. The moment was recorded and quickly circulated online.
Brubaker later told district officials that the kick was unintentional and that he was trying to intervene in the scuffle, but he admitted his frustration had contributed to the dangerous play.
During a meeting with the Simi Valley Unified School District, the coach was informed that he would not be allowed to return to campus, effectively ending his tenure before the first scheduled match.
Dominant season opener
The Royals answered the upheaval with a commanding 62‑0 victory, as an explosive offense and stifling defense erased any lingering doubts about the team's prospects under interim coach Cody MacArthur.