Coaching Misconduct Allegations Rock Paradise Honors High School Basketball

Michael Mcdonald

Surprise, Arizona - Accusations of bullying, intimidation and abuse have been laid against Paradise Honors High School Basketball Coach Zach Hettel, sparking a debate about the mental health of young athletes.

A complaint leaked online details a letter sent to the AIA (Arizona Interscholastic Association) the letter outlined complaints from a former player and details allegations that occurred both at the school practices and games.
According to the complaint, the student-athlete was bullied and even spit upon by the head coach. The student's mother Kimberly Larkins states that her son was so intimidated and uncomfortable being around Coach Hettell that he begged to quit the team and transfer. After a missed layup Coach Hettel told him, "He would never amount to nothing". He started to believe he was incapable of success it really had such a negative impact on him.

During an away game, she states, "he was pulled out the game and on the sideline Coach Hettel screamed in his face so loud and so hard that he spit in his face". Parents of teammates reached out to her after the game to express concerns of how coach Hettel was treating her after the game.

Mrs Larkins set up a meeting to speak with the coach and was told her son was just being too sensitive. "Other parents of athletes expressed concern over the coach's behavior yet are hesitant to speak up due to the impact it will have on their sons' playing time" Kimberly states.

Former athlete Ron Larkins (who is the grandfather of the student-athlete in the complaint) has been around sports most of his life. "I played football and basketball in high school and had some pretty difficult coaches " he says. " I have never experienced any coach make personal attacks on young men the way Coach Hettel of Paradise Honors does.

He is so bad my belief is that this is not the first time the AIA has heard bad things about this coach". For parents of student-athletes, it can be very difficult to validate claims of misconduct. Most parents will wait it out and transfer to another school without filing a formal complaint, a quick roster check reveals several former student-athletes of Paradise Honors High School Boys team on nearby school rosters.

Kimberly Larkins has since moved her son to another nearby school as well. "He is now successful and feels supported at his new high school".

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This release was published on openPR.