Dustin Sharp says he used to love football. But the Denton Braswell senior quit the team because of what he describes as a “manipulative and demoralizing” environment created by head football coach and athletic director Kent Laster.
In an online petition calling for the coach’s dismissal, Sharp, 17, alleges Laster’s approach harms players’ mental health and hurts the overall morale and harmony of the team.
By Thursday, the petition had 432 signatures, with 62% of the signees in North Texas.
Multiple people commented on the petition about their experiences with Laster, citing verbal and emotional abuse. Laster did not return a request for comment from The Dallas Morning News.
Sharp addressed Denton ISD trustees during public comment at a board meeting on Tuesday.
“I would like the position at Braswell High School, the athletic director, head coach to be replaced as it is right now,” Sharp told WFAA-TV (Channel 8) after the board meeting. “I feel like the path that it’s on right now, it’s only gonna hurt the students and affect them more. The students are just going through mental pain that they just can’t keep on going through, and it’s turned into a bad scene.”
The Denton Record-Chronicle reported it obtained three Level 1 grievances filed against Laster with the Denton school district before June 21. Level 1 is the lowest level in the grievance structure outlined by the Texas Education Agency.
All three grievances allege Laster used abusive tactics when correcting and interacting with players. The reported incidents date to May 2023.
“Coach Laster continued to blame me for the team’s subsequent loss and failed to offer any apology or acknowledgement of his error,” Sharp wrote in his grievance, according to the Record-Chronicle. “Instead, his language toward me was demeaning and unacceptable for a coach to direct at young athletes. The constant blame and lack of accountability fostered a toxic environment, making it difficult for players to feel safe or supported.”
Two other grievances, filed by Colton Michaud and Jacob Villarreal, also criticized Laster’s coaching style.
“The environment he has created is not one that fosters growth or encouragement. Instead, it is manipulative and demoralizing,” Sharp’s petition says. “These young athletes, who should be learning the value of teamwork, perseverance, and respect, are instead experiencing undue stress and loss of confidence.”
Denton ISD hired Laster in 2023 after he led Waco ISD’s University High School to its first playoff win since 2009.