High School Football Player Accused Former Coach Of Showing Vulgar Images, Molesting Him

VALRICO, FL — A student who attended Bloomingdale High School told deputies Wednesday that he had been molested more than 50 times by a former football coach at the school, a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office news release said.

The victim played on the school's football team that the suspect, Matthew Hike, 33, coached. The accusations occurred from 2017-2021. Hike worked as a football coach and was not employed as a teacher at Bloomingdale High School, deputies said.

According to detectives, Hike is accused of showing several pornographic images to the victim and he is accused of inappropriately touching him on five separate occasions.

Authorities arrested Hike for the second time in less than a month on April 6 for charges of lewd or lascivious molestation and authority figure soliciting or engaging in lewd conduct with a student.

On March 23, a woman whose grandchild went to Livingston Academy in Seffner accused Hike of touching her grandchild inappropriately. The grandmother told school administrators, who then contacted the sheriff's office.

Deputies arrested Hike on March 24 on charges of lewd or lascivious molestation and charges of sell or distribute obscene material to a minor.

"Children should be able to trust their teachers and coaches. Individuals who break that trust and abuse their power must be rooted out and brought to justice," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a news release. "Our investigations revealed that this suspect broke the trust of his victims and our community on more than one occasion, and we will do everything in our power to make sure that he is held accountable for his despicable actions and can never target another juvenile."

Detectives are encouraging anyone else who may have been a victim of Matthew Hike to come forward by calling the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.