A middle school wrestling coach in Long Beach has been arrested following an alleged incident involving a student athlete during practice, raising fresh concerns among Long Island parents about safety in school sports programs.
Police say 54-year-old John Anfossi, a coach at Long Beach Middle School, is accused of forcefully taking a student wrestler to the mat and then pinning the juvenile beneath him without the student's consent. The incident reportedly occurred during a team activity, though authorities have not released the exact date or time.
According to investigators, the interaction went beyond what would be considered normal wrestling instruction or routine contact for the sport. The student was not identified because of age, and officials have not disclosed whether the child suffered any physical injuries.
Long Beach Public Schools, which serves students from across the barrier island and neighboring South Shore communities, has been under pressure to reassure families that strict safeguards are in place for after-school programs. Parents from Long Beach, Island Park and nearby Nassau County communities frequently rely on school sports as supervised environments for their children in the afternoon and evening hours.
The arrest has sparked conversations far beyond Long Beach, with families in districts across Nassau and Suffolk counties questioning how coaches are vetted and monitored, particularly in high-contact sports like wrestling and football. Many Long Island school districts require extensive background checks and annual training on appropriate conduct, but incidents like this can prompt policy reviews.
As of now, Anfossi faces criminal charges connected to the alleged physical contact with the student. Additional details about the charges and his current employment status with the district were not immediately available. School officials are expected to cooperate with law enforcement as the case moves forward.
Authorities are urging any students or parents who may have information about the incident—or who may have concerns about similar behavior in other programs—to contact local police. On Long Island, complaints about misconduct involving school staff are typically investigated both by law enforcement and school administrators.
The investigation is ongoing, and more information is likely to emerge as the case proceeds through the Nassau County court system. Parents in Long Beach and across Long Island are closely watching the outcome, as it could influence how districts manage coaching oversight, training requirements and reporting procedures for school athletics.