Connecticut high school wrestling coach claims he was only trying to refocus his athlete, but faces assault charges over a chilling response to a joke

A Connecticut high school wrestling coach is currently facing serious legal trouble after an incident involving a student and a viral internet trend. Steven E. Nelson, who coached at Norwich Free Academy, has been suspended and charged with third-degree assault and risk of injury to a child following an alleged physical altercation during a practice session.

According to BroBible, the situation centers on a December 30 incident where Nelson was overseeing a cardio workout on stationary bikes. According to reports, Nelson confronted one of his athletes for cycling at a low pace of 30 revolutions per minute, rather than the expected 60 or 70. In response to the coach’s criticism, the student reportedly replied, “Coach, six-seven” and performed a specific hand gesture associated with the viral meme.

This phrase, known as 6-7, originated from the drill rap song Doot Doot by Skrilla and exploded into a full-blown cultural phenomenon in 2025. While the meme has appeared in everything from NBA highlights to branding for major companies like McDonald’s and Domino’s, it remains largely nonsensical to anyone over the age of 25.

So this all started because of a meme

It has been described by researchers as a form of secret language for younger generations, similar to Pig Latin, though it has also been linked to the broader brainrot trend of low-quality digital media. The gesture, which involves moving hands up and down with upward-facing palms, became so pervasive that it was even referenced by politicians and featured in episodes of South Park.

The reaction to the student’s use of the meme in the wrestling room was swift and, according to the arrest warrant, violent. Nelson allegedly responded to the quip by delivering an open-hand slap to the athlete’s head. The student later reported that his left ear was ringing, and he was diagnosed with a concussion. A police officer who examined the student observed a mark on his left cheek measuring approximately 1.5 by 1.5 inches.

The legal complications for Nelson deepened when police reviewed surveillance footage from earlier in that same practice. The video allegedly shows the coach wrestling with the same student and using his elbow to make repeated contact with the athlete’s head. These findings led the state Department of Children and Families to notify Norwich Free Academy on February 17 regarding substantiated allegations of physical abuse and physical neglect against the coach.

Despite the charges and the medical diagnosis, Nelson maintains that the incident was blown out of proportion. He claims that he only intended to give the athlete a tap to help him refocus during the workout, and he asserts that he meant to hit the student on the shoulder rather than the head. Nelson also noted that the athlete did not complain about being injured at the time. This perspective finds some support from others in the program.

One wrestler who witnessed the event described the physical contact as a light tap, while another wrestler characterized Nelson as a good coach who can occasionally be rough. As the legal process moves forward, Norwich Free Academy has placed Nelson on administrative leave. Interestingly, the school continues to pay him his salary as both a math teacher and a coach while he remains away from the classroom and the wrestling mat.

His legal counsel has expressed confidence that the jury system will do its job as the case progresses. This incident adds to a string of criminal cases involving coaches, including a high school basketball coach facing over 30 charges for deviant acts. The 6-7 meme itself has seen a decline in popularity since its peak in 2025, with many teenagers now viewing it as a relic of the past, occasionally referring to those who still use it with mockery. However, the consequences of this specific instance at Norwich Free Academy are far from over.

For now, the community and the legal system are left to sort through the conflicting accounts of what really happened on those stationary bikes back in December.