Ellsworth Community College placed Matt White on administrative leave. The college football coach is reportedly under investigation for alleged misconduct.
A new recording from the locker room might explain the decision.
As of right now, the school is not willing to comment further on the college football coach’s sudden absence. Recent results likely do not help his case.
Where is Ellsworth Community College?
Founded in 1890 as a private business academy, Ellsworth College later became a four-year college, a music conservatory and a public junior college. It was absorbed into the Iowa Valley Community College District as Ellsworth Community College in 1968.
The school enrolls approximately 690 students. The 10-acre campus is located in Iowa Falls, Iowa.
Known as the Panthers, Ellsworth competes in seven intercollegiate varsity sports as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference. The football program has won two NJCAA national championships. Notable alumni include former Cowboys defensive lineman Ken Bishop, Chiefs defensive back Dale Carter, Vikings safety Mistral Raymond, Rams center Demetrius Rhaney, Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett, and Ravens wide receiver Jaleel Scott. It is a good team, historically speaking.
However, the Panthers struggled in each of the last two seasons and got off to a rough start in 2026. They won their first game of the season by 44. They lost their two most recent games by a combined score of 139-10 to drop to 0-2. Not great.
And now they are without their head coach.
Head football coach Matt White is placed on administrative leave for misconduct.
According to Ellsworth Community College athletic director Nate Forsyth, head football coach Matt While has been placed on immediate leave. No further details have been made available at this time.
White was hired in 2024. He holds an all-time record of 5-19 during his time with the Panthers.
Although the reason for his leave remains unclear, there are rumors of a “misconduct” investigation. A prominent social media account known as ‘JUCO Football Frenzy’ claims it stems from leaked audio of an expletive-laced speech in the locker room. I have not verified the following recording. I do not know when it was recorded or whether it relates to the ongoing investigation.
BREAKING: Audio purportedly recording the misconduct that transpired. As a result, @EllsworthFTBALL Head Coach Matt White has been placed on leave. . During his tenure at @EllsworthFTBALL , he was 4-20. #JUCOPRODUCT pic.twitter.com/I6R3mZ2VA3
— JUCO Football Frenzy (@JUCOFFrenzy) September 10, 2026
Forsyth would neither confirm nor deny the report.
“All I can say is that he is on leave and Chris Bonta is the interim head coach right now. I don’t know necessarily what is on social media and how accurate any of that is. He (Bonta) stepped into that role and continued on with the standards that we hold for our programs and will move forward as we are today.”
Ellsworth will host Northeast Oklahoma A&M in Iowa on Saturday. The Panthers are looking to get back to .500 under the direction of their former defensive coordinator-turned-interim head coach.