Coach will return to field after prostitution arrest

Volusia County's superintendent says John Maronto, the county’s winningest football coach, will return to Mainland High School Thursday.

Maronto, 68, was arrested Saturday in a sex sting, when police said he tried to solicit a prostitute, which turned out to be an undercover police officer.

He was released from jail Sunday.

"He should be suspended the same day they heard the news," said Margarita Sullivan, a suspended student’s mother.

Last year, Sullivan's son was suspended the same day a school official discovered her son received an explicit photo on his cell phone. Sullivan said the text was from someone he didn't even know. 

Maronto has been with Mainland High School for 14 years. He’s credited with turning the Buccaneers into a high school powerhouse and wining the state title in 2003.

Maronto is also a part-time teacher. He teaches two classes and is a full-time coach.

“He's not suspended just because he's the coach,” Sullivan said. “He's not gonna be treated, or he's gonna be treated as a special person? (Not like your son?) Not the same, exactly."

“All of our teachers are under the blanket umbrella of ethics for the state of Florida. So we don't have the code of conduct like we do for the students for that zero policy,” said Nancy Wait, a spokeswoman for the school district.

Sullivan said students and teachers, and in this case the coach, should be treated fairly.

It remains uncertain what all the off-the-field turmoil will do to the Mainland Buccaneers as they prepare for their next game on Thursday night.

The coach has kept a low profile since bonding out of jail Sunday morning. He said he has no comment on his arrest or his future with the team.