Former Boulder City Football Coach Pleads Not Guilty to Lewd Acts Charges

Frank 'Bubba' Mariani accused of misconduct with players, including slapping buttocks and discussing sexual dreams

Mar. 12, 2026 at 3:35am

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Frank Mariani, a former varsity football coach at Boulder City High School known as 'Coach Bubba', has pleaded not guilty to charges of lewdness with a child and child abuse or neglect. Mariani is accused of various acts of misconduct with his players, including slapping their buttocks, instructing a player to create an AI video of two other players kissing, talking about dreams of having sex with minors, and reaching for a player's genitals. The allegations stem from the period between May 2024 and November 2025.

Why it matters

The case has raised concerns about the abuse of power by authority figures in youth sports and the need for stronger oversight and accountability measures to protect young athletes. The redaction of large portions of Mariani's arrest report by Boulder City officials has also drawn criticism, with the local newspaper fighting the redactions as an attempt to conceal information from the public.

The details

Mariani, 46, appeared in Boulder City Justice Court for his arraignment, where his attorney Tom Ericsson entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. In the arrest report, Boulder City police accused Mariani of various acts of misconduct, including slapping players' buttocks, instructing a player to create an AI video of two other players kissing, talking about dreams of him having sex with minors, and reaching for a player's genitals. The allegations cover the period between May 2024 and November 2025.

  • Mariani was arraigned on March 10, 2026.
  • The alleged incidents occurred between May 2024 and November 2025.

The players

Frank 'Bubba' Mariani

A former varsity football coach at Boulder City High School who has been accused of lewd acts on children and child abuse charges.

Tom Ericsson

Mariani's defense attorney who entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Christopher Tilman

The Justice of the Peace for Boulder Township who presided over Mariani's arraignment.

Amy Wagner

The principal of Boulder City High School who previously stated that Mariani would no longer be allowed on campus.

Glenn Cook

The Executive Editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which is fighting the redactions made by Boulder City officials to Mariani's arrest report.

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What they’re saying

“In hiding nearly all the information that supposedly justified Mariani's arrest on suspicion of 10 felony counts, Boulder City has hurt public confidence in the case and, in fact, provided protection for Mariani and his friends in the community who have insisted for months that he did nothing wrong. These redactions smack of a personal favor to someone accused of serious wrongdoing, whether that was the intention or not.”

— Glenn Cook, Executive Editor

What’s next

Mariani is due back in court on June 2, 2026, where the judge will determine if he should be allowed out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for stronger oversight and accountability measures in youth sports to protect young athletes from abuse of power by authority figures. The redaction of information by local officials has also raised concerns about transparency and the potential for conflicts of interest in high-profile cases involving community members.