Georgia High School Football Coach Arrested After Punching Player

A Georgia-based high school football coach, Carl Sledge, has been charged with battery after allegedly assaulting a player.

According to reports, the assault happened when he allegedly punched one of his players in the stomach, with the attack being caught on video. Before delivering the gut punch, Sledge was seen yelling at the player.

Atlanta Public School Police then escorted Sledge out of the field, putting him into a local jail. He was later released from Fulton Country Sheriff’s Office, where Sledge posted a $5,000 bond. Despite not being a teacher, Sledge will also face administrative charges from the school and be removed from his post as a lay coach for the high school’s football team.

The player assaulted was Cam’ron Barber, a defensive back for the Raiders at Benjamin E. Mays High School. According to MaxPreps, a scheduling and stats website for high school sports, the Raiders were up 12-0 against the Douglas County Tigers when the assault occurred. The Tigers ended up winning the game 48-44.

The conduct of coaches at Benjamin E. Mays High School has been investigated before due to accusations of abuse. Coaches are alleged to be verbally and physically abusive to the players. The investigation was started when a photograph was taken during a summer conditioning camp showing “a coach standing on the knees of players.” during an exercise.

“They work the kids to death. They practice them to death.” Paulina Strokes, the mother of a football player for the Raiders said. “I want to make sure they have done background checks on all the coaches.”

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Sledge is a graduate of Benjamin E. Mays High School. Outside of coaching, he has worked as a truck driver. It is yet to be determined whether he will speak for himself or get a lawyer to speak on his behalf.