A former Texas high school football coach and athletic director is facing child sex charges after a former student told investigators that he began a sexual relationship with her when she was 16 years old — a relationship she says continued for approximately seven years and into her adulthood.
Nicholas Alan “Nick” Codutti, 43, is charged in Harris County with indecency with a child and sexual performance by a child. The charges concern alleged conduct in 2018 and 2019, when Codutti worked at Tomball High School.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Unit began investigating Codutti on April 29 after Child Protective Services received a report alleging longstanding sexual abuse involving a former Tomball ISD student. Detectives filed charges on Sept. 25, and Codutti was arrested the following day.
According to charging documents obtained by KPRC 2, the woman, now 24, told investigators that Codutti had been her strength and conditioning coach at Tomball High School. She said the two initially communicated through social media and eventually exchanged nude photographs while she was still a minor. She also began babysitting for Codutti and his wife at their home.
The woman told investigators that she believes she and Codutti first had sexual intercourse in February 2019, when she was 16. She alleged that additional sexual encounters occurred at several locations, including Codutti’s home, a gym and Tomball High School. She specifically alleged that sexual contact occurred inside a coaches’ office in the school’s weight room.
The Houston Chronicle, citing the criminal complaint, reported that the woman also alleged Codutti would arrange for her to leave school so he could take her to a hotel. She further alleged that when she attempted to end the relationship, Codutti grabbed and threatened her.
The alleged relationship did not end when the student graduated. The woman told investigators it continued into adulthood, with their last sexual encounter occurring around September 2025, when she was 23.
The allegations eventually surfaced after the woman disclosed the relationship to a therapist. According to the criminal complaint, the therapist reported the allegations to Child Protective Services, which ultimately led to the law enforcement investigation.
Investigators reviewed the woman’s therapy and medical records, interviewed her mother and obtained employment records from Tomball ISD. Her mother confirmed that her daughter had babysat for Codutti and that Codutti had been her high school coach, according to the charging documents.
Employment records showed Codutti worked for Tomball ISD as an assistant football coach and teacher from August 2017 until February 2021. Investigators also obtained medical records showing the woman was prescribed birth control in June 2019, according to KPRC.
Codutti subsequently became head football coach at Fulshear High School before being hired as Klein High School’s head football coach in January 2025. He later became the school’s campus athletic director. None of the current allegations involve his employment at Fulshear or Klein.
When the investigation became public in May, Tomball ISD said no complaints, concerns or reports of misconduct involving Codutti had been brought forward while he worked for the district. Lamar CISD similarly said it had no information indicating the allegations were connected to his tenure at Fulshear High School.
Klein ISD said it learned of the allegations in May and placed Codutti on administrative leave, keeping him away from students. The district said Codutti had passed required background checks and received positive professional references from previous employers when he was hired. Klein ISD said it had no information about the alleged conduct at the time.
After authorities notified Klein ISD that criminal charges had been accepted against Codutti, the district terminated his employment.
Codutti was arrested by members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Violent Criminal Apprehension Team with assistance from patrol deputies. His bond was set at $50,000 on each charge, for a total of $100,000. He subsequently posted bond and was released.
Under his bond conditions, Codutti is prohibited from contacting children under 17 without court permission, except for his own children. The Houston Chronicle reports that he also cannot live within 1,000 feet of premises where children typically gather, must submit to drug testing and cannot contact witnesses, the complainant or the alleged victim. Court documents also restrict his possession of firearms.
Codutti’s attorney, Ryan Fremuth, told KPRC 2 that his client denies the allegations and intends to plead not guilty.
“We are asserting his innocence and denying the allegations as they are presented,” Fremuth said.
Fremuth said Codutti denies ever sexually abusing a child or having sexual contact with a minor. He said he has represented Codutti since the investigation began in April but had not yet received the evidence gathered by investigators.
Less than a week before his arrest, Codutti posted a lengthy message on his then-public X account describing fear, uncertainty and a difficult “season” in his life.
Screenshot: Nick Codutti/X
“I’ve questioned. I’ve worried. I’ve laid awake trying to figure out things that were completely out of my control,” Codutti wrote on Sept. 20.
Later in the post, he wrote that he did not know “how this chapter ends” and described his faith being tested.
Codutti did not mention the criminal investigation or allegations in the post, and there is no indication that his comments were referring to the case.
By Sept. 30, Codutti had changed his X account to private, limiting access to approved followers.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing and has asked anyone with information to contact its Crimes Against Children Unit at 713-830-3250.
[Featured images: Houston Chronicle/KFDM]
