Charges Dropped Against Ex-Dallas ISD Coach, And Now The Coach Shares What He Says Happened

An ex-Dallas ISD wrestling and football coach, Marcel Brooks, had been placed on administrative leave last April and then terminated. This came after a recording depicted Brooks striking a student.

This week, a Dallas County judge dismissed the assault charges against him following the state’s motion to do so.

“I am not the person that was painted by that video. It’s a roller coaster. It’s been up and down. I had my moments that I did feel depressed about it,” Brooks has reported.

He said that minutes prior to the recording starting, he had been monitoring the halls when he walked up to about 10 to 12 students who weren’t in class. They had been in the courtyard when Brooks says that one of the students provoked him, and he protected himself. He added that the student is the one who made physical contact first.

“I kinda moved my head, so he caught me in the face and neck area and shoved me into some tables that were right there,” Brooks stated.

Lawyer Dan Wyde says that he thinks that Brooks was wronged and had every right to protect himself.

The recoding, which is 10 seconds long, depicts the coach striking the student twice, resulting in the student falling down. Brooks says that has watched the recording over ‘500 times.’

“I believe the school needs to fully support teachers and their reasonable efforts to maintain discipline in the classroom,” Wyde stated.

Brooks says that now that the matter is over, his desire is to coach again, adding that going back to Dallas ISD would possibly be an option, as well.

“I can finally just breathe a sigh of relief and just live my life like I’m supposed to,” he remarked.