A popular Key Biscayne coach is under investigation by the Florida Youth Soccer Association after a parent complained that he mistreated players under his watch and failed to follow coaching standards.
The accusations against Hernan Acosta prompted about 50 residents to attend the Village Athletic Advisory Board meeting on Thursday.
Parents, former players and even a board member came to the coach’s defense.
Board Member Kenneth Coto said a few disgruntled families could hurt Key Biscayne soccer just as its competitive level is reaching championships and building a reputation.
“They push out a coach that everyone loves, respects and admires. What signal does that send to the other families that are here in this room and into the broader community?” Coto said. “I think the families that are involved in the club will lose confidence in the club.”
About 50 residents attended the Village Athletic Advisory Board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2026. after accusations of bullying were made against a popular soccer coach. The vast majority spoke in favor of coach Hernan Acosta. (KBI Photo/John Pacenti)
David Rodriguez – a former soccer player with Real Madrid – and his wife Nuria de la Fuente initially complained about Acosta to the Village that his approach hurt their son when he was 7 and 8. Acosta eventually demoted the child from the competitive A League to the developmental B League.
Rodriguez was not at the meeting on Thursday, but his wife attended. “This is institutionalized bullying,” she told the Independent after the meeting. “It has been encouraged by the Club,” de la Fuente said.
To the group of 50 parents assembled at the Community Center’s Lighthouse Room, she made similar statements: “This is not about us or any parent. It is about our children. In any case, we will once again state the truth. It is many parents across multiple teams and multiple seasons, the harm from this coach across these seasons is real and documented.”
Fred Daiube told the board his son went from an enthusiastic player to a kid who didn’t want to go to soccer. “We are dealing with 8 and 9-year-olds,” he said. “Now he is with a different coach, like a different approach, super happy.”
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The parents supporting Acosta, though, said his discipline approach may seem intense, but it has built character in their children and has elevated their game so much that some have moved on to Inter Miami’s academy program.
“This father’s frustration after his son was reassigned to the second team last season, his only complaints were always the same: minutes and starting positions,” said parent Natalia Salama. “I was present at 100% of the practices, and I never witnessed abuse.”
Fred Daiube and Nuria de la Fuente address speak at the Village Athletic Advisory Board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. They say their sons were mistreated by Key Biscayne soccer coach Hernan Acosta — an accusation the club denies. (KBI Photo/John Pacenti)
Key Biscayne Soccer Club President Marcelo Radice said the complaint started because Rodriguez was upset that Acosta cut his playing time. It then escalated from there because Acosta wasn’t taking Rodriguez’s advice on coaching the team.
Still, the club took Rodriguez’s complaints seriously and worked with the Village to adopt a new policy that forbids private coaching sessions and mandates playing time rotations for the younger teams, among other things.
Parks Director Todd Hofferberth was the only member of the Village administration at the meeting. Hofferberth left so abruptly that no one had a chance to ask questions.
After the Independent published the story, Hofferberth reached out through email at 6:12 p.m. Friday. He said parents were invited to share their feedback on the Key Biscayne Soccer Club at the Athletic Advisory Board’s regular monthly meeting.
” The meeting served as an opportunity for open discussion and input from families about the program,” he said. “Providing a forum for parents to share their perspectives on our youth athletic program is an important part of the Board’s role.”
Hofferbeth, however, did not answer a question as to the nature of the complaints. “We have not been copied on all communications to FYSA, as some families choose to include us and others do not. The Village is committed to following the proper process and will work with FYSA as appropriate to ensure this matter is addressed responsibly and thoughtfully,” he said in the email.
Radice said Rodriguez – after complaining to Village in April – escalated their accusations by filing a complaint with the U.S. Center for Safesport, initiating an investigation by FYSA. He said another Rodriguez complaint to the other governing body for youth soccer – U.S. Club Soccer – was dismissed.
“Instead of the playing time, which was what the issue was, now it’s mental abuse, emotional abuse, and that’s a trigger when you say that,” Radice said.
Acosta was not at the meeting on Thursday to defend himself and has not returned phone calls and messages from the Independent. Radice said coaching soccer isn’t a hobby for Acosta – it’s his job.
“He’s a very humble guy,” Radice said. “He’s upset because this guy’s destroying his reputation.”
Rodriguez,on Friday night, spoke to the Independent after this story initially ran, as well, and denied U.S. Club Soccer had dismissed his complaint; instead, it applied jurisdiction to FYSA as a procedural matter. He said Radice mischaracterized the scope, the number, and the nature of complaints about Acosta.
Rodriguez also said he found it “perplexing” that Cato, a board member of the Athletic Advisory Board, would make statements in support of Acosta without having reviewed or asked for any evidence or spoken to any dissenting families.
“At every step, the Club has externally characterized our concerns as isolated or overstated,” he said. “At every step, we learned that it was worse and more systematic than we initially understood. Over the last three months, after going public, we have heard from many families describing near identical experiences.”
Emotions ran hot at Thursday’s meeting at the Community Center and at one point, Hofferberth alerted the police officer about one man who had disrupted the meeting three times, upset with de la Fuente and Diaube — criticizing Acosta.
Key Biscayne Soccer Club President Marcelo Radice speaks at the Village Athletic Advisory Board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 where the practices of coach Hernan Acosta were discussed. Radice says Acosta is being unfairly maligned and is a good coach. Parks Director Todd Hofferberth sits listening. (KBI Photo/John Pacenti)
Salama asked the board how much longer Acosta would remain under investigation.
“The Village already conducted an investigation, and they later let our kids keep their coach. In fact, his complaints led to a new set of rules, rules that met all of his demands. And yet, here we are again, this time, the accusations are even more serious,” she said.
Several of Acosta’s former players also spoke on behalf of the coach.
“He pushed us all very hard, because he loved us. He loved us all, and he wanted the best for us, and he was a great person,” said Carlo Liverani, 14.
Jeronimo Barabona, 12, said, “Hernan has been the best coach I’ve ever had, and he has taught me respect, discipline, and responsibility are the most important things.”
Editor’s Note: This story corrects the age of Rodriguez’s son and includes new comments from Rodriguez.
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JOHN PACENTI is a correspondent of the Key Biscayne Independent. John has worked for The Associated Press, the Palm Beach Post, Daily Business Review, and WPTV-TV.
SALT LAKE CITY — It appeared that nothing could erase the pure exuberance from the few dozen children as they ran out onto the new Utah Jazz-themed basketball court at the Northwest Recreation Center to secure a ball.
Soon after, the rambunctious bunch — clad in purple shirts — eagerly dribbled around the court before taking in some instructions during a Junior Jazz hoops clinic. It was a fun way to break in the new surface at the recreation center in Salt Lake City’s Fairpark neighborhood.
This is now the 26th “community court” that the Utah Jazz have sponsored across northern Utah, but the first of eight renovations planned through an initiative partnership with Delta Air Lines to refurbish eight courts over the next seven years, said Chris Barney, president of revenue and commercial strategy at Smith Entertainment Group.
Chris Barney, Utah Jazz revenue and commercial strategy president, speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday. (Photo: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
“These community courts matter. They create access, remove barriers and give kids a safe, high-quality place to play, learn and grow through sports,” he said, adding that the project will ultimately improve the “landscape” of youth basketball in the region.
The newly designed court isn’t quite like the Delta Center, but the children took to it as if it were the next best thing. It features a purple baseline with Utah Jazz logos, topped with a J-Note similar to the home court at the Delta Center. A pair of Jazz-themed murals with the “mountain basketball” motif is plastered by the entrance of the gym, adding to the experience.
Jazz Bear made a special appearance to cap the NBA feel, blasting the crowd with confetti after cutting the ribbon to celebrate the new court.
The new design might help kids connect with the county-run recreation center and with their community, said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, who attended the ceremony. The county has partnered with the Junior Jazz program for decades, accounting for some of the 2 million youth who have participated since it was established in 1983, while over 50,000 volunteer coaches have come from the county since the program started.
Malachi Gonzales, 9, dribbles during a Junior Jazz basketball clinic on a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday. (Photo: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
In addition to helping finance the new court, Delta covered the costs for a few hundred Junior Jazz players, which helps families manage spending, she said.
“Basketball … builds identity, of who we are as individuals and what we’re capable of,” added Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, later pointing out the importance Junior Jazz had in her family after her father’s death.
“Our story is actually part of hundreds of thousands of stories, of families who would otherwise couldn’t have afforded or wouldn’t have known how to access a competitive team that cost a lot of money, and was hard to get onto,” she said.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
From the frozen ponds and lakes to the packed indoor rinks serving as community hubs, hockey is uniquely celebrated and cherished in Minnesota like no other state in the country.
“It’s something that we play all year round both in the city community organization, but then all the way through AAA hockey as well,” said hockey dad Jimmy Mullen.
Kids often learn to skate not long after learning to walk, fueling a potential passion for the winter sport.
“My youngest is in mites and my oldest is a squirt,” said hockey mom Kristina Hill of Andover.
Hockey is the sport Hill grew up in, something many Minnesotans can relate.
“It’s just kind of woven into the fabric,” said Jeremy Reed, executive director of Minnesota Hockey, the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in the state.
How many kids in Minnesota play hockey? Reed said the latest numbers show 54,921 as of Dec. 17, 2025. The numbers he shared for this year include adults ages 19 and up, of which there are about 8,000.
For the previous 2024-2025 season, Minnesota Hockey had 50,597 participants ages 18 and under playing for local associations and recreation leagues.
That’s most of any state in the country by a longshot. Massachusetts comes in second at around 40,120 kids ages 18 and under. New York was third with 36,180, followed by Michigan with 24,391. In Wisconsin, there were 17,986 kids last season.
What’s led to such high participation in Minnesota?
“Part of that is because the way hockey is delivered in the communities with the community support and the support for the rinks and the public-owned rinks,” said Reed.
There are over 230 indoor ice rinks in Minnesota, according to Rinkside Advertising Network. Come winter, hundreds more form outdoors so long as Mother Nature allows.
“We live just two minutes from our rink, and we’ve got a handful of outdoor rinks in Andover,” said Hill.
“We get a chance to skate with people from Florida, people that come up from Chicago. They always tell us real quick about how close the rinks are [in Minnesota],” said Mullen.
What’s the time commitment parents new to hockey can expect?
“It’s a lot, it’s definitely a labor of love getting the kid to the rink early on the weekends,” said Hill.
“We skate, you know, probably two hours a day at some points, during the weekends we’re twice a day,” said Mullen, admitting his family is on the high side of the spectrum in terms of time commitment.
Reed said how much time a family spends going to rinks for practice and games will depend on the level of competition they’re seeking. The state’s rec league program, which has just one night of practice and one day of games per week, offers an easy entry for families new to the competitive side of the sport.
“The nice part is it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. You can certainly tailor it to how you want,” said Mullen.
More than 14,000 girls under 18 played local association hockey in Minnesota last year. That ranked number one in the nation.
Minnesota Hockey created a guide for parents new to the sport on what to expect, including budgeting. Click here to learn more.
GREENVILLE — Funeral services for John Wesley Brewer, Sr., 95, of Greenville, who passed Saturday, Jan. 3, at Bolivar Medical Center, Cleveland, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Greenville. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until the start of the service.
Rev. Chris Vowell will be officiating. Serving as pallbearers are Bogan Anderson Brewer, James Burland Young III, John Brewer Young, Jeffrey Blair Young, Jarrod Brock Young, and Daniel Thomas Morgan and serving as honorary pallbearers are John Austin Brewer and Lee Ellis Brewer, Jr.
A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. at Stonefield Church of God Cemetery in Cascilla.
John Wesley, as he was known, was born to the late Rev. Luther Harrison and Allie Beatrice Scallion Brewer in Cascilla Dec. 5, 1930. He was raised in a loving and faith-filled home and made his profession of faith in Christ as a boy. John Wesley was educated in the Drew public schools and later at Mississippi Delta Junior College and Delta State University.
He served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Rendova (CVE-114) during the Korean War and later during Operation Ivy before being honorably discharged for his service. He was a 32nd Degree Master Mason and a proud member of the American Legion and the VFW. He has a long service record to Washington County with participation in the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the Exchange Club, and the Salvation Army. He dearly loved youth sports in the Delta where he coached YMCA football and officiated high school football for 21 years.
John Wesley was a business man who started his career at D. Canale & Co. out of Memphis, and later operated Delta Electronics. He was materials manager for Cleaver Brooks Boiler Manufacturing before buying Dixie Fire Equipment Co. In 1995, he co-founded Advanced Welding and Industrial Supply with his son before retiring in 2022.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Frances Lucille Jefcoat Brewer; four brothers, Davis Brewer, Oliver Brewer, Lee Ellis Brewer, and L.H. Brewer, Jr.; and three sisters, Velma Brewer Goss, Rebecca Jo Brewer Cooksey and Betty Sue Brewer Willard; and his son-in-law, Ben Sayle.
He is survived by three children, Jeffrey Sayle of Greenville, John (Terri) Brewer, Jr. of Greenville, and Susan (Jimmy) Young of Cascilla; as well as six siblings, Thelma Staton, Herbert (Margaret) Brewer, Faye Ridgeway, Jim Brewer, Sharon (Richard) Brown, and Bobby (Carol) Brewer; ten grandchildren, Kelly (Dan) Morgan, Liz Sayle, Allie Sayle, John Austin Brewer, Bogan Brewer, Kaylynn Brewer, Burland Young, Brewer Young, Blair Young, and Brock Young; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Donations in his memory can be made to Navy Safe Harbor Foundation and Sacred Space of Greenville.
Register online and express condolences at www.mortimerfh.com
Seeger Youth Basketball is offered to any student in kindergarten to second grade currently attending Williamsport, Warren Central, and Pine Village Elementary Schools.
According to information provided, each grade will have it’s own co-ed teams, and it will allow every player to get a chance to learn the game! We will emphasize skill development, good sportsmanship, and teamwork. This league will be held on each Sunday in February at the PAC Feb. 1 to Feb. 22. Thirty minutes of practice followed by a 30 minute game will be included. Registration cost is $30 per child helps cover the cost of their jersey and supplies. $15 per child covers participation fee (if you decide to use their jersey from last year) Cash or check labeled and sent in to your school office will be accpeted. There are volunteer options if payment is a concern so organizers say don’t let that stop you from signing up.
Please Click the Google Form for more info and to register a player at https://forms.gle/2aPBgXpgAsXvM1fbA
Follow the Facebook Group Seeger K-2 Basketball for more information. Any questions please contact Bobbie Schmid (765)585-3574 or reach out on the Facebook page.
The Fredonia Recreation Department is hosting its annual Youth Basketball Program for any student(s) who live in the Fredonia Central School District.
The program runs each Saturday from noon-2 p.m. and is free of charge.
This year the program begins Saturday, Jan. 10 and concludes on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Participants do not need to be present each week to be part of the program. Grades 1-4 will take place at Wheelock Elementary School and grades 5-8 will be at the high school gym.
Instruction and games this year will be provided by the Fredonia High School basketball coaching staff and players.
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A Maple Grove woman is accused of stealing more than $110,000 from the Plymouth Wayzata Youth Softball Association while she served as treasurer, according to a recently filed criminal complaint.
Kristin Williams, 52, is charged with one count of felony theft by swindle.
If convicted, the crime is punishable of up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
The Plymouth Wayzata Youth Softball Association is led by parent volunteers and funds youth softball operations. That includes paying for umpires, equipment and tournaments.
According to the criminal complaint:
Williams served as treasurer from June 2020 to February 2025.
The complaint noted that Williams was the sole individual who had access to the association’s online bank account, and also possessed a debit card linked to that account.
There was evidence of theft two months after Williams assumed the role, the complaint said.
Suspicions were raised in September 2024 when the association received notice from the Internal Revenue Service that the nonprofit had lost its tax-exempt status for failing to file taxes for three years. Issues also arose with vendors and coaches not receiving payments.
A review of account statements by the board’s president discovered numerous withdrawals at casinos such as Mystic Lake Casino and Little Six Casino. Further review also determined that Williams had not been truthful in accounting reports presented to the board.
“It appeared that defendant concealed her thefts by fraudulently reducing deposit accounts or hiding the stolen money within other payment classifications such as ‘clinic expenses’ or ‘equipment’ in the reports,” the complaint said.
Williams is scheduled to make her first court appearance on Jan. 21.
