Ethan Johnson, a father from Kentucky, posted on Facebook to publicly criticize the basketball coach at Floyd Central High School for constantly putting down and belittling his son, who plays on the team.
He started the post with a tough disclosure, revealing that his son decided to quit the basketball team at Floyd Central High School.
According to Ethan, all this is because things have been rough for Jaxon right from the very start of the season. He feels his son has been put down and talked to in a way no kid should have to deal with by the coach.
“He has been belittled and talked down to since day one,” Ethan wrote.
On top of that, Ethan says Jaxon kept getting pushed to the side so there would be more playing time for one of the coach’s friends.
The dad mentioned that the coach even told Jaxon straight out that he wasn’t good enough and that if he wanted any real minutes on the court, he should probably switch to a different school.
Ethan went on to describe how bad the atmosphere has gotten. He said there’s hardly any discipline on the team, and it reached a point where Jaxon showed up to practice and ended up having to fist fight with an 18-year-old player.
Frustated father wrote, “I’ve never been a part of a more toxic environment than the one he has been in this season.“
He pointed out that basketball is meant to be something enjoyable, where teammates lift each other up, show respect to one another, and look up to their coach. Instead, this whole experience has turned into something toxic that made his son start hating a sport he’s loved for years.
Ethan then shared that as someone who played basketball his whole life, he knows what tough coaching looks like.
He revealed that he had some hard-nosed coaches back in the day, but none of them ever crossed the line into belittling players or making them feel worthless.
Ethan strongly said that coaches can push kids to get better without tearing them down completely. He wrote:
Coaches should be hard on their players but not belittle them to the point that they hate the game that they have loved for years
Ethan Johnson
Even with all the hurt and frustration, Ethan is trying to stay positive about what comes next.
He wrote that he truly believes everything happens for a reason, and he’s convinced Jaxon will come through this stronger and end up on top somehow.
Several in the comments also supported Jaxon, saying that he is a terrific basketball player and he will land at the right place no matter what.
Cody Little wrote, “Sorry buddy that you have to deal with this. I know basketball runs in his blood! Good luck trying to find the best place for him.“
Jon Hall praised Jaxon, writing:
Jaxon is a terrific basketball player. He needs to transfer out and go to a school and put it all over them going forward. That kid is an athlete not just in basketball but baseball as well. Tell him don’t pay attention to ignorance. Let him know we love him and here for him if he needs us.
Jon Hall
