A North Carolina high school football coach went from the elation of a big win to being forced to resign over an Instagram post that showed him using a racial slur during a post-game celebration at a bar.
"Fifteen seconds of fame in the wrong way. I've ruined the last 12 years of my career," John Hoskins told ABC11.
Hoskins is an assistant football coach at Knightsdale High School. The 32-year-old was celebrating his team’s win over Corinth Holders High when he shouted, “"White power, Knightdale. I still love you, N-----"
The moment was captured on video and posted to Instagram. Hoskins said he was celebrating with friends both black and white.
"Just to set the record, I'm not racist," Hoskins told ABC11 on Tuesday. "I don't mean it in a negative way."
Hoskins said he said his black friends told him it was ok to use the word.
"I guess I've been around them for so long. We're friends. I mean nothing from it," he said. "The word can be used in multiple ways. They treat me as any of their own friends."
This is the resignation letter from the assistant coach at Knightdale High who was seen on video using the N-word and shouting “White Power, Knightdale.” He explained to me this was locker room talk condoned by his black players, he used while celebrating Friday with friends. pic.twitter.com/MjDURjU3nQ
— Tim Pulliam (@TimABC11) November 5, 2019
Hoskins has since deleted the video but only after it was reported to school administrators.
Not wanting to be a distraction to the team, Hoskins sent a letter of resignation to the school the next day.
Knightdale is a majority-black team.
"They joke around. We joke around,” Hoskins said. “They walk up to me and say it. 'Hey coach, just say it. You're a good coach. Just say it.' Once in a while, it slips," he said. "Once a year, it slips. To have them smile and laugh. Besides that, I mean nothing from it."
Cathy Moore, Wake County superintendent, said she was disappointed and angered by the remarks.
"The language, the context is not OK,” she said. “And unfortunately, social media will show you a piece of something but not all of something. And this man is an adult. And he should know better.”
