Manitoba’s independent teacher commissioner is investigating the head coach of the Grant Park Pirates football program amid allegations of team hazing.
The AAAA varsity team is at the centre of a probe into allegations student-athletes who played for Doug Kovacs during the 2025-26 school year drew blood while carrying out a locker room ritual.
Multiple sources confirmed Kovacs was put on leave from Grant Park High School in the spring in response to a complaint about his coaching style.
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Grant Park Pirates AAAA varsity football team head coach Doug Kovacs is being investigated by Manitoba’s independent teacher commissioner.
“There’s a lot of different red flags here,” said one parent of a football player who was recently contacted about the case by the office of commissioner Noni Classen.
Citing concerns minors are involved, the parent spoke about the situation — including “super, super disturbing” videos of player-on-player violence they’ve viewed — on the condition of anonymity.
They described feeling angry and betrayed upon learning the varsity team had organized “raves,” a form of hazing that often began with lights being turned off before athletes ganged up on a rookie, during the season.
“I’m really at a loss for how this was able to go on,” the parent added.
One video, described by the parent, shows a teenage boy getting beaten up until his face was bloodied.
Other footage depicted a different student struggling to breathe as he was “choked out” by teammates, they said.
“There’s a lot of different red flags here.”
Asked about this activity and student injuries, the Winnipeg School Division said it immediately put an unnamed employee on leave when it was “made aware of the matter.”
Kovacs, a special education resource teacher, did not respond to requests for comment.
The province’s online teacher registry shows his professional certificate, obtained just over 25 years ago, remains in good standing.
Classen, who oversees the registry, said she couldn’t release details about the active case, but its status is “good news” because concerns are being addressed.
It is important witnesses, particularly young people, “can trust in the process,” the commissioner said, noting they have been reassured they will be protected when they speak openly to investigators.
She added that teacher certificates are suspended during investigations “in the most serious of situations,” based on public interest and safety.
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Multiple sources confirmed Kovacs was put on leave from Grant Park High School in the spring in response to a complaint about his coaching style.
Grant Park has a reputation for fielding competitive squads in football. A flag football team was launched in the spring and the high school recently announced plans to develop a “first-class athletic facility” for Pirate athletes.
Sources familiar with Kovacs’ coaching style described him as an aggressive trainer who openly uses profanities during games.
“He’s known for saying the words, ‘Boys will be boys,’” a former colleague said. “And in 2026, those lines don’t work anymore.”
Chad Falk, executive director of the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association, indicated his team learned about the probe when the Free Press reached out for comment on Tuesday.
Bill Johnson of Football Manitoba echoed those comments in an email.
“I’m really at a loss for how this was able to go on.”
“Football Manitoba is neither aware of nor participating in this investigation,” the executive director said.
The Manitoba Teachers’ Society declined to comment on a case before the commissioner.
Despite being off-duty for the last two months of the school year, Kovacs made multiple posts in a public Pirates football group on Facebook.
On June 30, the last day of school, he posted an image with the team’s logo and “See you in August” overlaid on it.
Classen said an investigator is in the process of preparing a report on the case for her to consider.
Her office, staffed by an investigation manager and two other trained investigators, both of whom are retired police officers, is “really busy right now,” she said.
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
Grant Park High School has a reputation for fielding competitive squads in football.
Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter
Maggie Macintosh
Education reporter
Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie.
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