North Texas Figure Skating Coach Arrested for Alleged Child Indecency

Retired skater warns of risks in one-on-one training and why young athletes may fear speaking out

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A prominent North Texas figure skating coach has been arrested for alleged inappropriate relationships with students, including one who was underage at the time. A retired figure skater is speaking out about the case, warning that such incidents may be more common than realized in the sport's one-on-one training environment, where young athletes can be reluctant to report misconduct by coaches who hold sway over their careers.

Why it matters

The arrest highlights concerns about athlete safety and the power dynamics between coaches and young athletes in individual sports like figure skating, where one-on-one training is common. It also raises questions about the figure skating community's ability to identify and address such issues.

The details

Benjamin Shroats, a well-respected figure skating coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for 30 years, was arrested earlier this week by Allen police for alleged inappropriate relationships with students, including one who was underage at the time. A retired figure skater named Beverly Wooden, who competed internationally and trained at the same rink as Shroats, is now offering free therapy to anyone impacted. Wooden warns that many young athletes are hesitant to report misconduct by coaches who hold sway over their careers.

  • On Thursday, a retired figure skater spoke out about the case.
  • Shroats was arrested by Allen police earlier this week.

The players

Benjamin Shroats

A prominent figure skating coach in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who has been arrested for alleged inappropriate relationships with students, including one who was underage.

Beverly Wooden

A retired figure skater who competed internationally and trained at the same rink as Shroats. She is now offering free therapy to anyone impacted by the case.

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What they’re saying

“A lot of athletes are hesitant to come forward right away because the coach is the person who holds your dream in their hands, and it's hard to challenge them or speak up about it when they could potentially ruin your career for doing so.”

— Beverly Wooden, Retired Figure Skater

What’s next

Shroats is free on bond but ordered by a judge not to continue working as a coach or have any contact with skaters.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater oversight and safeguards in individual sports like figure skating, where one-on-one training environments can enable abuse of power by coaches over young athletes who may be afraid to speak out.