Northside Vikings Coach John Howe Faces Racist Allegations After Parents Accuse Him of Targeting Black and Puerto Rican Families
Howe maintains he has always treated players equally and accuses parents of playing the “race card.”
October 1, 2026
This article was last updated by aditibhatta on October 1, 2026
Mariah Torres, a parent in the Northside Vikings youth football program, publicly accused volunteer coach John Howe of making racist remarks toward Black and Puerto Rican families during a heated exchange.
According to Torres, Howe screamed in her face about how much he “hates Puerto Ricans” and stated that “colored people would get kicked off the team quicker than white folks.”
Torres said several other coaches were present during the incident but failed to intervene.
Despite complaints to team leadership and the ACCJFL league, she claims no meaningful action was taken.
“My kids loved cheering, but I had to take them off the team because nothing was being done,” Torres .
She added that Howe’s presence on the field made her family feel unsafe and disrespected.
After Torres shared her story on social media, other parents voiced support, recounting their own negative experiences with Howe.
Comments ranged from frustration with the team’s lack of accountability to calls for stronger oversight from the league and school district.
Some parents emphasized the broader issue of systemic racism in youth sports.
“If all the kids of color leave, the team won’t win,” one supporter commented, highlighting the sense of unfairness in the situation.
Others called for legal action, with suggestions ranging from filing harassment complaints to contacting the school superintendent.
John Howe strongly denied the accusations. In a written statement, he claimed the allegations were “falsehoods” meant to discredit him after Torres and her sister were removed from the organization for disciplinary issues.
Howe insisted he never made racist remarks and argued that he did not even know the families were Puerto Rican until after being accused of racism.
“Anyone who knows me, knows that these statements are the furthest from the truth,” Howe .
He added that if the allegations were accurate, the organization would have removed him immediately.
He described Torres’ claims as an attempt to “play the race card” to avoid accountability, and emphasized his commitment to coaching fairly.
“I will continue to coach every player with the same care and devotion regardless of their race,” Howe said.
The dispute has left the Northside Vikings community divided. Supporters of Torres demand accountability and insist that allowing Howe to remain on the field undermines trust in the organization.
Meanwhile, Howe’s defenders argue that the accusations are exaggerated and part of a personal conflict unrelated to race.
The controversy has also drawn attention to Howe’s candidacy for the Scranton School Board, raising further questions about leadership, fairness, and the responsibility of those in authority.
For now, the allegations remain unresolved, with both sides standing firm.
Parents and community members are pressing league officials and school leaders to address the situation transparently to ensure that children can participate in sports without fear of discrimination.
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