Report: High School coach suspended for housing homeless player
In the movies, taking in a homeless high school kid who turns out to be a heck of a football player makes for a heartwarming story.
In real life … not so much.
According to reports by the Orlando Sentinel and wftv.com, an Orlando-area coach was suspended for allowing a homeless player to move in with him.
Bill Buldini, coach at St. Cloud High, did not coach in his team’s game Friday night. An assistant coach told the Sentinel he understood that the school had self-reported the violation of a Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) rule and was holding the unnamed player out of games while awaiting a ruling.
Buldini, who also teaches social studies, was back on the job Monday after the Osceola County School District said he did not break any district rules, wftv.com reported. The FHSAA investigation continues.
The FHSAA rule in question states that "No school employee, athletic department staff member or representative of the school's athletic interests may be involved, directly or indirectly, in promising, offering free or reduced-cost rent for housing."
Both Buldini, who gets a $3,850 annual stipend for coaching, and the school run the risk of fines, according to wftv.com. The high school could be fined thousands of dollars and be forced to forfeit some football victories.
"If you need a home, if you get kicked out, then you should have a home to stay,” student Kristi Lakin told wftv.com. “You shouldn't be left on the streets.”
