North Carolina High School Football Coach Resigns After Posting Instagram Video Of Himself Shouting Racist Language

A North Carolina high school football coach resigned after a video appeared online reportedly showing him yelling racist language.

John Hoskins, 32, resigned Sunday as an assistant football coach for Knightdale High School. His resignation came less than a day after he posted a video on Instagram showing him at a bar yelling racist language while celebrating the school’s win on Saturday against Corinth Holders High.

The video has since been deleted.

Durham ABC-affiliate WTVD reported Hoskins yelled “White power, Knightdale. I still love you, n-----.”

Knightdale Principal Keith Richardson announced the resignation in a post on the school’s website.

“John Hoskins has resigned and is no longer affiliated with our school or our football team," Richardson wrote. "The football team was made aware of this incident yesterday. It is the responsibility of a coach to uphold the highest standards of behavior. They are role models to our children on and off the field, and are trusted to coach our students with the utmost integrity. When a staff member breaks that trust, it is deeply upsetting. Furthermore, using the language of white supremacy stirs up feelings of fear, intimidation and threats of racial violence.”

Hoskins pushed back in an interview with WTVD on Tuesday, insisting he is not racist. He also said he had black friends who had been OK with him using that language in the past.

“I guess I've been around them for so long. We're friends. I mean nothing from it,” Hoskins said. “The word can be used in multiple ways. They treat me as any of their own friends.”