A Texas mother is suing former Rockwall-Heath High School head football coach John Harrell Football and twelve assistant coaches after an investigation revealed that intense workouts led to her son and other student athletes being hospitalized last year. The lawsuit alleges negligence and seeks damages exceeding $250,000.
Valencia Smith, the mother of the unnamed minor, filed the lawsuit in Rockwall County district court, detailing serious injuries her son sustained during a warmup session. This session was reportedly part of an eighth-period workout class assigned as punishment by John Harrell football, then the head coach, and his assistants.
According to the lawsuit, Harrell and his coaching staff negligently pushed the students into excessive exercise without providing adequate water or rest. They were allegedly aware of the risk of rhabdomyolysis, a dangerous muscle condition, yet proceeded with the strenuous drills. Furthermore, the lawsuit claims the coaches ignored directives from the school’s athletic director against using physical punishment for disciplinary purposes.
Mike Sawicki, Smith’s attorney, emphasized the severity of the situation in a statement to KERA News. “This isn’t just about students being tired after a workout,” Sawicki stated. “Rhabdomyolysis is a recognized, dangerous medical condition resulting from overexertion, potentially causing permanent and severe health issues. Ignoring treatment or failing to recognize the signs of injury could significantly worsen the situation for these young athletes.”
Smith’s son continues to undergo treatment for rhabdomyolysis symptoms, though specific details were not disclosed by Sawicki.
John Harrell Football Coach Denies Wrongdoing
John Harrell football, when contacted, declined to comment directly. However, his attorney, Meredith Walker, issued a statement asserting Harrell’s denial of any misconduct. Walker stated that Harrell had attempted to resolve the matter prior to the lawsuit. She also argued that Harrell is protected under the Texas Education Code, which generally grants school employees immunity for actions within their professional duties.
“Instead of pursuing resolution, the Plaintiff has included all coaches, even those not present at the practice in question, as defendants,” Walker’s statement read. “Mr. Harrell views this as an attempt to circumvent the liability limitations provided by the Texas Education Code.”
However, the Texas Education Code’s immunity does not extend to cases involving excessive force in student discipline or negligence resulting in bodily injury.
Rhabdomyolysis Cases and Investigation
An investigative report revealed that at least 26 Rockwall-Heath student athletes were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis or exhibited symptoms consistent with the condition. These cases stemmed from workouts conducted during first-period athletics on January 4, 5, 6, and 9, 2023, and an eighth-period workout on January 6, 2023.
The report indicated that John Harrell football devised the workout plan, including a warmup that escalated into punishment drills. Harrell stated that assistant coaches supervised the workouts while he was in the weight room.
Eighth-period students reported being subjected to pushups as punishment for various infractions during the warmup, such as improper attire, mistakes, attitude problems, negative interactions, or perceived lack of effort. Coaches reportedly mandated group pushups instead of addressing individual students. While water was available, students stated they were reluctant to request water for fear of appearing weak.
One student’s attempt to access water to clean a knee injury was even thwarted by a malfunctioning mobile water tank, according to the report.
Video evidence detailed in the report showed that pushup punishments began shortly after warmups commenced. Students were often forced to restart sets multiple times. Following the final set, an assistant coach informed Harrell that the group had made 23 mistakes. Students calculated that this amounted to approximately 369 pushups, or 16 pushups per mistake.
While some parents initially claimed their children were forced to do 300 to 400 pushups without water, the investigation found it unlikely that all eighth-period students completed the full 400 pushups, based on video analysis.
Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, such as swelling and dark urine, began to emerge in athletes later that Friday, January 6. John Harrell football reportedly claimed he was unaware of rhabdomyolysis until athletic trainers identified it as the likely condition.
The report further stated that Harrell was en route to visit hospitalized students when he was called into a meeting with district officials.
The investigation concluded that while John Harrell football did not intentionally cause the rhabdomyolysis outbreak, his workouts were implemented recklessly and endangered student health, violating the Educators Code of Ethics. The investigation cleared the students of any responsibility for their injuries.
Aftermath and Community Reaction
John Harrell football was placed on administrative leave shortly after the hospitalizations and subsequently resigned from Rockwall ISD. He had previously been sued in separate lawsuits by two other families represented by Sawicki, which were settled for undisclosed amounts. Smith’s current lawsuit proceeded after the coaches’ insurance company declined settlement.
Sawicki clarified the intent behind the lawsuit: “We are not trying to portray Coach Harrell as malicious, but he was negligent regarding known risks that affected these boys. We are seeking to hold him accountable.”
The report acknowledged the possibility of unreported rhabdomyolysis cases among students who did not seek medical attention or disclose their diagnoses to the school.
Despite the severity of the incident, John Harrell football received considerable support from parents and students. They rallied at a January 2023 school board meeting, wearing “Keep Harrell” shirts and expressing admiration for his leadership.
However, the lawsuit also highlights that other students and parents were hesitant to voice concerns due to the community’s reaction and a “whisper campaign” that discouraged complaints. Some students reported online bullying, including in team chats, with insults and questions about their masculinity directed at injured players.
Coaches’ messages suggested a belief that nutritional supplements might have contributed to the students’ symptoms. An assistant coach allegedly contacted students seeking links between supplement use and rhabdomyolysis diagnoses, but the investigation found no evidence to support this theory.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) confirmed an investigation into the matter last year, but details remain confidential.
The investigative report recommended that Rockwall ISD hire a full-time certified strength and conditioning specialist to assist coaches in workout plan development. Additional recommendations included enhanced oversight of offseason workouts by the athletic director and rhabdomyolysis training for coaches and athletic administrators.
Sawicki hopes the lawsuit will serve as a deterrent, preventing future rhabdomyolysis cases and emphasizing the need for “common sense” and awareness of potential risks in athletic training.
This story has been updated with comments from John Harrell’s attorney.
