Competing California athletic directors fight on Lake Tahoe beach

Argument Between College Athletic Directors at Lake Tahoe

Recently, two athletic directors from California colleges found themselves in a heated confrontation at Lake Tahoe. A video surfaced on social media showing Jesse White from Madera Community College and Derrick Johnson from Fresno City College engaged in a stark argument.

In the clip, White can be heard shouting at Johnson, saying, “What are you going to do? I’m going to mess you up.” It’s quite intense, to say the least. There are moments when bystanders attempt to step in as the situation escalates, but ultimately, White overpowered Johnson and forced him down.

As Johnson tried to reclaim his belongings, White retaliated by knocking him back down. It was somewhat chaotic, and an individual claiming to be part of law enforcement, along with other witnesses, tried to separate the two as they continued to struggle until the video ended.

This incident took place last week at Zephyr Cove, located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. The clip gained quite a bit of attention, amassing over 865,000 views on Instagram as of Thursday morning.

In response to the altercation, the State Center Community College District, which oversees both institutions, is currently looking into the matter. A spokesperson mentioned they’re examining the incident per district policies.

Interestingly, both men had previously worked together at Fresno City College, where White coached track and field. They were in Lake Tahoe for a meeting related to the California Community College Athletic Association. Given their roles, it’s not surprising their teams often compete, as they’re in the same district.

Johnson, with a background that includes being a former draft pick of the Florida Marlins, has extensive experience in athletic administration. He has previously worked with other colleges, including Riverside City College, where he successfully led multiple teams to postseason play.