The legacy of a high school football coach isn't just about winning games. It's about how they impact the community. Roosevelt High School head coach Trey Porter was one of the good ones, but he recently lost his job over a stupid rule.
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At the school district in St. Louis, coaches are not allowed to contact students or even former students through social media. However, since some of Porter's players don't have cell phones, he uses Facebook to make sure everyone is all good. That's ultimately why he lost his job, according to KMOV 4.
"It was typically for reaching out to the players and keeping up with the safety," Porter said. "We focus a lot on mental health. A lot of my players don't have cell phones, but they have Wi-Fi hot spots. They use Facebook to call."
Today Roosevelt fired head football coach, Trey Porter (@CoachPorterJP3) for what they call a violation of school policies. Porter who could have left the school several times said this hits home because everything he did was for the kids.
Tune in to @ksdknews @ 10 for the story pic.twitter.com/XMJxoAjsol— Ahmad Hicks (@AhmadHicksTV) October 17, 2019
Porter, who was also the school's athletic director, isn't the only one upset by the decision. Students at the school even protested the firing of the head football coach over the social media policy.
Students walk out of school at Roosevelt as they protest the firing of former head football coach Trey Porter. (@CoachPorterJP3) pic.twitter.com/1nJOutsFLl
— Ahmad Hicks (@AhmadHicksTV) October 21, 2019
Talked to students at Rosevelt HS. They say football coach & athletics director Trey Porter changed the lives of students. He gave students clothes, food and things they needed to be equipped to get their education. A mentor and a father-figure is how they describe him. @KMOV
— Justin Andrews (@Justin_EAndrews) October 17, 2019
"They are heart-broken. He did everything for them. Fed them. Clothed them," Roosevelt sophomore Makiya Jones said.
"I don't believe it rises to the level of a fireable offense and that's because of how much work he has put in for the school and the kids," St. Louis Alderwoman Christine Ingrassia added. "That should have been taken into consideration."
The school policy is what it is, but the St. Louis public schools district isn't messing around. This is definitely tough for the football program and coaching staff. Coach Porter was a role model to several of his football football players. He put on leave for talking to the media without permission before, according to KMOV 4, and now he doesn't have a job.
"The rule is the rule. I was following not the letter of the law but the spirit. In this case, my kids were my best interest," Porter said.
In an era where social media has a presence everywhere, it's hard to imagine someone losing their job just to make sure their players are staying safe.
