HS Coaches Resign after Players' Ebola Taunt

The coaches of a high school soccer team in Northampton, Pa., have resigned just one day after allegations that their players taunted an opponent with chants of "Ebola."

Nazareth High School soccer player Ibrahim Toumkara moved to Pennsylvania from a small town in Guinea, a country located in West Africa, three years ago. After hearing the Ebola remarks, he charged a Northampton player and was ejected from the match.

According to Toumkara's guardian, Edward Bachart, the teenager worries about his parents, who still reside there.

Northampton's head coach and assistant coach, Craig Carvin and Jason Melniszyn, submitted their resignation letters Tuesday evening as the Northampton Area School District was finishing its investigation into the matter.

District superintendent Joseph Kovalchik said that neither district tolerates any form of discrimination, and that "appropriate discipline will be dispensed to any students who violated the code of conduct."

"I am glad Nazareth and Northampton took this incident very seriously and did a very thorough investigation," Bachart told The Morning Call. "I think kids nowadays have to realize that their words can cause a lot of damage and you've got to think before you speak and be careful with what words you choose."

Bachart believes the Northampton coaches made the right decision in resigning, but he thinks Northampton's players should be held accountable as well.

"This doesn't belong in society," he said. "It certainly doesn't belong in the field."

In response to the episode, the Nazareth soccer team has taken to Twitter to promote and sell wristbands that say "#ENDRACISM."