Six Mariner football coaches removed after incident at team lock-in

The Lee County School District placed two Mariner High School football coaches on administrative leave and fired four others due to improper supervision during a recent team lock-in at the school.

According to a letter sent to Mariner parents by school principal Tom Michel and athletic director Joshua Gompper on Aug. 4, head coach Tyran Jones and assistant coach Kaycie Zorbas have both been relieved of their coaching duties and put on leave while the district investigates their actions. Four assistant football coaches who were not school district employees had their coaching contracts terminated.

Assistant Doug Faasse, who was not present at the lock-in, was named the team’s interim head coach.

The letter also stated that students who acted inappropriately at the lock-in will face disciplinary action.

“While student privacy laws prevent us from disclosing specific names or consequences, please be assured that no hazing took place and every individual involved is being held fully accountable,” the letter said.

On Aug. 2, 2026, Lee School Board chair Armor Persons confirmed that Jones had been placed on leave in a comment on a social media post about the incident.

“As Chair of the Lee County School Board, I have been briefed that the district immediately initiated an investigation and placed the coach on administrative leave while that investigation is underway,” Persons wrote. “That is the appropriate first step to protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure due process.

Jones, who is in his second season as Mariner’s coach, has not responded to requests for comment. The 32-year-old led the Tritons to a 3-7 record in 2025. He spent the previous two seasons as the head coach at Island Coast, with his teams finishing a combined 8-12.

Jones did not attend the Mariner football team’s scheduled media session at the Lee County School District on July 28 due to what was explained as a scheduling conflict.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Six Mariner football coaches removed after incident at team lock-in