Apalachee coach resigns months after school shooting, citing PTSD, mental health

WINDER, Ga. - The head coach of Apalachee High School’s football team announced his resignation over the weekend - six months after a deadly shooting at the school took the life of one of his assistant coaches.

Mike Hancock posted on social media to say that after seven years at the school, he would be stepping down.

“After much prayer and seeking spiritual guidance, I have decided to resign my position as head coach at the Chee,” he wrote. “These past several months have been difficult on me both mentally and physically.”

Richard “Ricky” Aspinwall, a math teacher and assistant football coach, was one of four people shot to death at Apalachee High School in September as he tried to protect others.

Two students, Christian Angulo, 14, and Mason Schermerhorn, 14, and another educator, Cristina Irimie, were killed. Nine people – eight students and one teacher – were taken to area hospitals.

What we know about the victims of Apalachee High shooting

A 14-year-old Georgia high school student has been charged as an adult with using an assault-style rifle to kill two students and two teachers in the hallway outside his algebra classroom. Four people were killed – two students and two teachers.

“To be open and honest, I have been struggling with PTSD, anxiety, grief, and depression,” he said. “I allowed those things to cripple me for the past few months.”

Hancock said that he’s seeking help while encouraging others to do the same. He said he started attending sessions with a counselor and “learning to work through my anxiety, grief and depression.”

Hancock wrote that his new mission is to help other coaches “learn to work through any mental health issues that are a struggle for them.”

The suspected shooter is charged with four counts of murder. His father has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder and cruelty to children. Police said they believe he gave his son access to the AR-15-style rifle that was used in the shooting.