© 2025 WGCU News
PBS and NPR for Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Matter of Cape Coral coach's resignation is closed, says Lee Schools spokesman

After a community meeting Tuesday with the Lee County School Board, talk turned fiery over the resignation of Tyler Murphy, Cape Coral High School football coach and a physical education teacher. After resigning, Murphy attempted to rescind his resignation but it was not accepted.

About a dozen football players and a few parents confronted system officials, urging his reinstatement. One man was escorted out by police.

Lee Schools’ spokesman Rob Spicker says a parent came forward with hundreds of pages of text messages that confirms Murphy had sexual activity with a parent on campus.

When presented with the evidence, he resigned, Spicker says. The school board accepted his resignation at its meeting Oct. 17. As required, the system submitted the information to the state.

The future of his teaching certificate now rests with the Florida Department of Education.

Murphy, a first-year teacher, was in a probationary period.

Spicker says to the school district, this matter is closed.

The Cape Coral High School football team is now being coached by a former assistant coach, Jaylen Watkins.

Trusted by over 30,000 local subscribers

Local News, Right Sized for Your Morning

Quick briefs when you are busy, deeper explainers when it matters, delivered early morning and curated by WGCU editors.

  • Environment
  • Local politics
  • Health
  • And more

Free and local. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

More from WGCU