New Jersey baseball coach resigns after alleged visit to Myrtle Beach strip club
A New Jersey high school baseball coach has resigned after a team trip to Myrtle Beach this past weekend.
Joe Smith, the longtime head baseball coach of Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, New Jersey, left his position effective March 28, 2026, according to District Superintendent Mark C. Marrone in a statement.
A volunteer coach also was removed from the coaching staff on Friday, March 27, 2026, the statement said.
It has been reported that at least one of the two adults traveling with the team visited a strip club in the coastal city, according to a Philadelphia TV station. The district would not confirm the report.
“As is District policy, we do not comment publicly on personnel matters beyond what is necessary to communicate operational updates,” Marrone said in the statement. “Any staffing decisions made by the District are handled with careful attention to confidentiality, due process, and all applicable state and federal regulations.”
Marrone said in the statement that the district became aware of “specific concerns” related to the recent trip and has initiated a comprehensive review. “There has been no discovery of malfeasance or mismanagement of funds related to the program or the trip,” the statement said.
No students or parents who participated in the team trip are alleged to have engaged in any wrongdoing, the statement said. The district’s review focuses on coaching staff conduct and compliance with district policies.
“Our athletes deserve to be in an environment where they are safe, respected, and supported to achieve both on and off the field,” Marrone said. “When concerns are brought to our attention, we take them seriously and respond with the thoroughness they require.”
The school’s athletic director, Billy Kern, will assume coaching duties for the team until an interim head coach is named, the statement said.
