California player sues school district over ‘ICE bounty’ jokes and abuse, but the damage from a forced injury has left him unable to run years later

Riley Cochran-Hernandez, a former football player at Del Campo High School, has initiated a federal lawsuit against the San Juan Unified School District in Sacramento County, California. According to BroBible, the legal action alleges a pattern of racial harassment, abuse, and retaliation carried out by two former head coaches, Matt Costa and Jeffry Remington.

The documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California paint a troubling picture of the team environment. Among the most alarming claims is that coach Remington suggested students could report their peers to federal immigration authorities for financial gain. Cochran-Hernandez recalled the situation, stating, “Coach Remington was telling us to report people to ICE for bounties, and we’re all kind of just like, what has this got to do with football?”

The allegations against the coaching staff extend far beyond inappropriate comments. The lawsuit details claims that coach Costa used racial slurs in front of players and subjected them to humiliating, profane chants. Furthermore, the filing describes a dangerous practice environment where players were forced to endure 110-degree heat with minimal water breaks. Some accounts even mention players burning their hands during bear crawl drills under these extreme conditions.

110-degree practices with barely any water breaks is insane

Cochran-Hernandez also highlights a severe physical injury that has had lasting consequences on his life. After suffering a pulled muscle in the spring of 2025, he provided a doctor’s note requesting rest. According to the lawsuit, coach Remington ignored the medical advice, publicly shaming the player and threatening to remove him from the team if he did not participate.

Feeling he had no other choice, Cochran-Hernandez continued to practice, which resulted in a catastrophic quadriceps tear that stretched from his knee to the top of his leg. He now deals with permanent nerve damage and chronic pain. “I’ve kind of learned to walk with my leg being numb,” Cochran-Hernandez said. “But I haven’t learned to run or anything. I haven’t run since football.”

The legal team representing the former athlete notes that these issues were brought to the attention of school administrators by the student’s father, Darrin Cochran, on July 31, 2025. Despite the father’s efforts to protect his son, the lawsuit alleges that the school failed to take appropriate action and that the coaches later retaliated against the student. This situation highlights how coaches should be mentors and guides but instead abuse their power, turning leadership into a source of lasting trauma.

Karin Sweigart, the attorney representing Cochran-Hernandez, stated, “They were expressly made aware that this activity was going on, and they didn’t take the action to protect students. That’s one of the most disheartening things about this situation.” Interestingly, an internal investigation conducted by the school district appears to confirm many of these claims.

The results of that probe, which were submitted as evidence, sustained allegations regarding the use of slurs, the unsafe heat practices, the ICE comments, and the dismissal of the doctor’s note. The district’s own findings concluded that the leadership of Costa and Remington was “detrimental to student safety and well-being.” Despite these internal findings and recommendations for disciplinary action, the lawsuit claims the district failed to provide the student with any meaningful relief.

The San Juan Unified School District has declined to provide details regarding the ongoing legal proceedings. A spokesperson for the district, Raj Rai, stated, “Creating and maintaining safe learning environments for students and staff is a top priority for the San Juan Unified School District. I am unable to comment on pending litigation.” As of now, efforts to reach the coaches for comment have not been successful.

Looking back on his experience, Cochran-Hernandez expressed his frustration, noting, “I went through a lot. And to be honest, I don’t think anybody should go through what I went through.”