High school football coach removed amid suicide probe

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (AP) - A Rhode Island high school football coach has been removed from his position amid an investigation into a student’s suicide.

The Newport Daily News reports the Portsmouth School Committee voted unanimously to not reappoint Ryan Moniz as coach for the 2018-19 school year. Moniz’s status as a teacher at Portsmouth High School is unclear.

According to an investigation, Nathan Bruno admitted he had made harassing texts and calls to Moniz. Officials say Moniz asked Bruno to say the other students who had harassed him.

Moniz called a team meeting on Feb. 6 and threatened to resign unless his players figured out who else was involved. Bruno killed himself the next day.

An attorney for Moniz says the reappointment process violated his client’s constitutional rights.

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Information from: The Newport Daily News.