Rocky River High Baseball Coach Resigns After Team Altercation on Road Trip

Coach Ed Piazza and assistant Michael Harper stepped down following an incident involving players and a fraternity in Myrtle Beach.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:06pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in various shades of blue, green, and orange, conceptually representing the disruption and confusion of an off-field incident involving a high school sports team.A fractured, geometric illustration captures the chaotic aftermath of an altercation involving a high school baseball team and a fraternity during an out-of-town road trip.Rocky River Today

The head baseball coach and assistant coach of Rocky River High School in Ohio have resigned after an altercation involving their team and a fraternity during a road trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. School officials say they immediately investigated the incident and postponed practices and games while the probe was underway.

Why it matters

High school sports programs strive to maintain a positive culture and reputation, so an incident like this can have significant consequences for the coaches, players, and the school community. The resignations highlight the sensitivity around off-field behavior and the need for strong oversight on school-sponsored trips.

The details

According to a police report, the incident occurred in the early morning hours of April 11 after the Rocky River baseball team returned to their condo in Myrtle Beach. The team's chaperone told police they were approached by 'older males of a fraternity' who allegedly 'began harassing them until one of the juveniles struck a member of the fraternity and left on foot.' No injuries were reported. A fraternity member gave a different account, saying the 'conversation became argumentative to the point where the juvenile struck the member.'

  • The incident occurred on Friday, April 10 and continued into the early morning hours of Saturday, April 11.
  • On Thursday, April 16, Rocky River High School's principal and athletic director announced the resignations of head coach Ed Piazza and assistant coach Michael Harper.

The players

Ed Piazza

The former head baseball coach of Rocky River High School who resigned following the incident.

Michael Harper

The former assistant baseball coach of Rocky River High School who also resigned in the wake of the incident.

Rocky River High School

The high school located in Rocky River, Ohio whose baseball team was involved in the altercation with a fraternity during a road trip to Myrtle Beach.

North Myrtle Beach Police Department

The law enforcement agency that responded to the incident and filed a report.

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What they’re saying

“To be absolutely clear, neither Mike Harper nor I were involved in any criminal investigation or illegal activity of any kind. Any claims or suggestions otherwise are completely false.”

— Ed Piazza, Former Head Baseball Coach, Rocky River High School

What’s next

The Rocky River High School administration is continuing to investigate the incident and has not yet announced any disciplinary actions for the players involved.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges high school sports programs face in maintaining proper oversight and positive team culture, even on out-of-town trips. The resignations of the coaches show how quickly these situations can escalate and the need for clear policies to address off-field behavior.