CMS high school coach sent sexually explicit messages to student, district investigating
A West Charlotte High School coach is no longer on the job after he exchanged sexually explicit messages with a female student, The Charlotte Observer has learned through interviews and copies of the messages obtained this week.
Two sources confirmed to the Observer that Ryan Copeland — a former teacher, girl’s soccer coach, JV girl’s basketball coach and a dean of students at West Charlotte High — sent the messages to the 18-year-old via Instagram in early May, just a month before he was named Queen City conference girls soccer coach of the year by his peers.
The teenager is one of his former students and a soccer player, according to a source close to the Lions’ sports programs with direct knowledge of the situation surrounding Copeland’s departure.
The West Charlotte junior varsity girls basketball team, which Copeland helped coach, was at a camp at UNC Charlotte on June 16 when someone on the team saw some of the correspondence between Copeland and the female student on social media, according to one source close to the program. The players went into the stands and began sharing the correspondence with their parents.
Both sources say the messages were explicit in nature and that Copeland’s departure from CMS is directly related to the still-active investigation.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools media relations officials confirmed to the Observer this week school administrators filed a Title IX complaint after they were notified.
It is unclear when that Title IX report was filed. Title IX is a federal law that requires schools to respond fairly and quickly to issues such as harassment, discrimination and sexual violence.
“Title IX procedures were followed,” Cassie Fambro, a media relations specialist, said. “We can also confirm that Copeland is no longer with CMS.”
Copeland could not be reached for comment. It is unclear if he is employed elsewhere. West Charlotte Principal Donevin Hoskins also could not be reached for comment.
A search of public records shows Copeland is 38 years old.
One source with direct knowledge of the investigation involving Copeland provided the Observer with copies of explicit messages sent from a now-deleted Instagram account called “coachcopeland20.”
In one message, he asked to see the female student’s breasts. In another, he offered to send money so she can go on Shein, an online fashion retailer, and buy “some thongs and fishnets. So that ass can really pop!” One reply shows the 18-year-old asking for money in exchange for sending revealing photos of herself.
The coachcopeland20 account also wrote, “Why I can’t just try and please you and you please me?” according to the messages. He wrote: “I might have to come see that in person.”
CMS Board of Education policy prohibits any conduct of a sexual nature directed toward students by employees. “Employees are prohibited from kissing students, dating students, asking students for kisses or dates, engaging in lascivious or romantic activities with students, asking students to engage in lascivious or romantic activities, or engaging in any activities designed to encourage or which does encourage an inappropriate romantic or sexual relationship with a student,” according to the policy.
Any school employee who believes a student is being subjected to harassment by another employee is required to report the conduct to the principal, the policy states.
Copeland’s leaked messages come on the heels of turmoil in West Charlotte High athletics and the direction of the school’s football program.
The Observer reported Lions head coach Sam Greiner has not been with the team for more than a week, and CMS confirmed Thursday the district suspended him while it investigates the program for recruiting violations and treatment of players.
Lions athletic director John Yewcic told the Observer on Thursday West Charlotte hired Spanish teacher Digna Bermudez as its new girls soccer coach.
This story was originally published August 4, 2022 at 7:05 PM.
