ROANOKE, Va. – Less than two weeks after the 10 News Investigation into the South Forest Community Christian football program, its athletic director and head football coach, Pope Mitchell, has resigned.
Mitchell’s resignation leaves the players who did stay on the team scrambling for their next opportunity.
It was a program plagued with problems from the beginning.
When one of the players sent 10 News videos from inside Mitchell’s home, the tip of the iceberg began to chip away. Details of a program built on a shaky foundation were revealed.
[Dream turned nightmare: Local football program plagued with broken promises]
After seeing the players’ housing situation, 10 News dug deeper.
Mitchell claimed South Forest Community Christian was affiliated with Community Christian College in California, something CCC denied.
[‘They need to shut that down’: Former players blow the whistle on Roanoke football program]
We sat down with Mitchell to confront him on our findings. It was a meeting that left us with more questions than answers. Since then, there’s been fallout.
Soon after our stories about this program aired on 10 News, the Ferrum JV football team removed SFCC from its upcoming schedule.
Then there was a bombshell: Mitchell resigned from his position as AD and head coach.
In text messages Mitchell sent his assistant coaches and players, obtained by 10 News, he said he didn’t know if the program would continue, but that he was no longer the contact for those questions.