Brooklyn football coach resigns after players, coaches yell out ‘Nazi’ during game against Beachwood

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Brooklyn High School football coach Tim McFarland resigned Monday after his team used racist and antisemitic language during a Friday night football game, the district announced.

Beachwood Superintendent Robert Hardis said in an email to students and families that he learned late during the first half of the game that Brooklyn players were repeatedly using the word “Nazi” to call out football plays during the game.

McFarland acknowledged using the word as a play call, apologized and agreed to change it when the teams returned for the second half, Hardis said.

The Cleveland Jewish News estimates Beachwood, a city of about 14,000, is nearly 90% Jewish, based on a 2011 survey. Beachwood hosted the game, which Brooklyn won 35-3.

The game occurred a week after Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and two days before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and the holiest day of the year in Judaism.

Theodore Caleris, superintendent of Brooklyn City Schools, said in an email McFarland’s resignation was effective immediately.

McFarland was praised last year by the district for being an excellent coach and role model. He was recognized as a program honoree at the annual Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Clinic in February.

He said McFarland, as well as the school district, expresses deep regret and apologizes to both schools for the incident.

“As stated, this hurtful and harmful speech will not be tolerated, in any form, by Brooklyn City Schools leadership,” Caleris said. “While to the district’s knowledge the language was not directed to any single individual, the Brooklyn City Schools acknowledges that using such offensive language in the first place was utterly and absolutely wrong.”

Caleris said the school hopes to learn from the incident. He said the Anti-Defamation League of Ohio contacted the district and will be used as a resource going forward to promote understanding and tolerance.

Beachwood city officials also condemned Brooklyn’s actions.

“There is no place for this sort of behavior, and we invite Brooklyn’s city leaders to join us in condemning it,” according to a statement from Mayor Justin Berns and city council. “Brooklyn’s behavior violates the norms and expectations of conduct that should be taught to every student.”

Beachwood’s superintendent said this incident was not the first time Beachwood students and staff have faced antisemitism or racism.

“Antisemitic and racist speech are unacceptable in any setting,” Hardis said in a statement. “They are counter to the norms and expectations we teach our students.”