A High School Football Player Speaks Out Against His Coach
Senior at Denton Braswell High School Speaks Out
Dustin Sharp, a senior at Denton Braswell High School, has decided to step away from the football team. His reason? The environment created by head coach Kent Laster. Dustin, who once loved the game, now describes the team's atmosphere as manipulative and demoralizing.
The Turning Point
It all started in late September when Dustin's mom, Nikki, found him crying in the bathroom. He didn't want to go to morning practice. He felt the environment had changed since Laster became head coach in 2023. Dustin claims Laster was physically and mentally abusive. He says Laster would push players and pick on certain student-athletes.
Dustin told his mom, "I don't want to play football anymore. But, I'm afraid that if I don't play, then what do I have?" This fear kept him on the team, even though he was unhappy.
The Injury and Aftermath
In October, Dustin suffered a concussion. It ended his season and caused him to miss days of school. He stood on the sidelines for the rest of the season. After the season ended, he decided to step away from the team.
Reporting and Petition
Dustin reported Laster's actions to Dr. Jamie Wilson, the former Superintendent of Denton ISD, and the school administration. But he says his complaints went nowhere. So, he started an online petition calling for Laster's dismissal. The petition claims Laster's approach harms players' mental health and hurts the team's morale.
The petition has over 470 signatures, with most coming from North Texas. Many commenters shared their own experiences with Laster, citing verbal and emotional abuse. Laster did not respond to requests for comment.
Speaking Out
Dustin also spoke at a Denton ISD board meeting. He wants to warn future athletes about the environment. "My goal is to bring light to these upcoming athletes," he said. "They're gonna be in for a world of pain."
Grievances and Fear
The Denton Record-Chronicle reported three grievances filed against Laster before June 21. All three allege abusive tactics. Dustin's grievance says Laster blamed him for a loss and used demeaning language. Two other grievances, filed by Colton Michaud and Jacob Villarreal, also criticized Laster's coaching style.
Dustin says other students want to file grievances but are scared of punishment. Despite everything, Dustin still dreams of playing football again. But he knows it might not happen in high school.