(UPDATE) Joyner reinstated; three Sharks to be charged

Nature Coast coach Jamie Joyner was reinstated by the Hernando County School Board on Monday following its investigation into an allegation Joyner threw punches at a student during a football game last month against Groveland South Lake.

The school district removed Joyner from the classroom and investigated the allegation made by a game official. The school district concluded "there has been no victim identified anywhere," executive businesses services director Heather Martin said.

Also, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said Monday it will not charge Joyner because no one has filed a complaint against him. Joyner was suspended six weeks by the Florida High School Athletic Association after an official identified him for throwing punches during the bench-clearing brawl at South Lake.

"I feel a huge relief," Joyner said. "It turned my life upside down. It's all I thought about every day since Nov. 7. The hardest part is going through it. You have to allow the process to take it's course. My feeling was the truth always comes out. I didn't do anything wrong, and I dispute the fact that I threw punches."

Cpl. James Vachon said Lake County will file misdemeanor charges against three Nature Coast football players in the next day or so for their roles in the brawl. 

None of the players were identified because they are minors, and they will not be physically arrested as the department of juvenile justice will handle their cases. A criminal complaint concerning a South Lake player was dropped because investigators did not have enough evidence.

Nature Coast finished its season 9-2 after the FHSAA canceled its final two games as part of its punishment, including the cancellation of its Class 3A region quarterfinal against Williston.

-- IZZY GOULD
izzygould@me.com

(Joyner answers more questions by clicking the link below...)

Joyner Q&A

St. Petersburg Times: Did you ever think you would lose your job?
Joyner: "Honestly, yeah. I knew I had the truth on my side. But we both know that doesn't always matter."

Times: Did you ever consider resigning?
Joyner: "Resigning would have been like admitting I did something wrong. And I would never quit on my team."

Times: Do you feel badly for Central and Tavares and those seasons ending as a result of the brawl?
Joyner: "Central is a big rival of ours. We won't spend Thanksgiving dinner together. But for them to have their season end the way ours did I feel terrible. They deserved to play, and Tavares deserved to play. It's a terrible way to end the season."

Times: What would you do differently in that situation?
Joyner: "After (the brawl) against Central we came up with a plan to stay on our sideline, and that's what we did this time. The next time the lights go out I don't know I could do anything differently."

Times: The season ended at 9-2 after the FHSAA canceled your final two games, thoughts?
Joyner: "That's hard to talk about. I know my kids are still dealing with it. I'm still dealing with it. I told you we would be playing Pasco in the third round. We felt like we had a team that was built for a great playoff run. We wanted to avenge losses to Williston and North Marion and that was all setup. It's hard to swallow."

Times: Looks like you'll have a next season, have you thought about it?
Joyner: "I have to get over this season first."