California high school football state champion rocked by hazing investigation - USA Today

A California high school football program has been suspended amid a police investigation into allegations of hazing, bullying and sexual battery involving current and former players.

The El Cerrito High School football team, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, saw its season suspended after police identified nearly two dozen individuals suspected of involvement in incidents that allegedly span more than two years.

The El Cerrito Police Department announced Thursday, Nov. 5, that detectives had identified 22 individuals in connection with the investigation. Police said the case could result in multiple arrests.

The West Contra Costa Unified School District subsequently announced the immediate suspension of the football program, while head coach Tim Johnson was placed on leave pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.

"No child should ever experience what our students have described," WCCUSD Superintendent Cheryl Cotton said. "While we have worked to focus on accountability for the actions of individual players up until this point, new information has led to new decisions. We must now make the very tough call to immediately suspend the El Cerrito High football program in order to prevent any further harm and restore a safe learning environment for our students."

According to police, the investigation began Oct. 2 after a mandated reporter notified authorities of alleged bullying and hazing involving members of the football team. The alleged victims were other players within the program.

Detectives interviewed victims, witnesses and school staff and obtained video evidence that police say corroborated accounts of the alleged misconduct. Investigators are examining allegations of battery, sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, stalking, conspiracy and dissuading a victim from coming forward.

Police have not released additional details about the allegations, citing the involvement of juvenile victims, witnesses and suspects. The district is also conducting its own investigation through the Title IX process, with an independent third party assisting in the review.

School officials said they are providing resources for students affected by the allegations and implementing anti-hazing and bystander education across classrooms.

The suspension brings an abrupt end to a season for a program that had experienced a significant turnaround in recent years. El Cerrito entered the 2026 season looking to build on its historic 2025 campaign, when the Gauchos captured their first CIF State Division 4A championship. The team had compiled a 6-3 record this season before the suspension.

The program previously dealt with significant turmoil in 2024, when the school forfeited games because of the use of ineligible players. The North Coast Section subsequently ruled the football team ineligible for postseason competition that season and placed the athletic program on probation.

El Cerrito police said the investigation remains active, with detectives continuing to evaluate evidence and anticipating multiple arrests as the case progresses.

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