Coach Resigns After Hazing Allegations Surface: Girls Force to Swim Naked in Pool

Our second hazing report this week and again, not the worst hazing we've ever heard of, but another one of those that makes you wonder if coaches--especially HS coaches--get it.

This time we have a softball team at a motel on spring break and--allegedly--the freshmen were forced into the pool and then told to take off some of their clothes. They had to remain there for 5 to 10 minutes. The coach allegedly approved the "team building activity" and now she's out of a job and the school is split over whether this was hazing or not. Based on some of the comments posted below the story, it sounds like no one is even sure of the facts. Here's more from WATE:

Anderson County High School head softball coach Heather Branum has resigned from her coaching position Monday while she was under investigation for a possible hazing incident. The incident in question happened while the team was in Myrtle Beach playing in a spring break tournament.

According to Principal Greg Deal, before she resigned, Branum was suspended for five games, or about two weeks. Along with coaching softball, Branum is also a special education teacher at the high school. She hasn't been suspended from teaching.

6 News spoke Monday with the parent of one of the girls on the softball team. According to the parent, the hazing was directed at freshmen on the team who were forced by teammates to get undressed and remain in a swimming pool for 10 minutes.
The parent also says Branum watched the incident and threatened the girls with running laps if they told others about the incident.

In her resignation letter, Branum writes:

"It is with my deepest regret that I submit my resignation as the Head Coach of the Anderson County Softball team. During a recent spring break trip, an event occurred that I am extremely sorry that I allowed to happen and I take full responsibility. I would never do anything to put my team in harm's way or embarrass my team. There is nothing that I wouldn't do for any of my girls if they needed me. In the past two years, I've learned a lot about how hard it is to be a coach in today's environment and I am still learning. Please accept this letter of resignation with my sincerest apologies."