CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A high school football coach was fired after two parents accused him of telling a player to "put a gun to your mouth and pull the trigger" during halftime of a game in September.

The parents also complained that Providence High School coach Jim Seacord grabbed and squeezed the lip of another player who had complained of cramps during an August practice.

Seacord was suspended Oct. 10 after school officials interviewed players the day before. He was fired Friday after a further investigation, Providence principal Mike Matthews said.

"Based on additional information I have received, I have found it necessary to remove coach Seacord from his coaching responsibilities on a permanent basis," Matthews said in a written statement. "I regret this for coach Seacord, as I know him to be a committed coach who loves working with young men. I do feel, however, that this action is in the best interest of our students."

School officials would not elaborate on the incidents, citing confidentiality laws, and said the investigation continued.

Seacord, who has 28 years of coaching experience, remains at Providence as a physical education teacher.

Seacord declined to comment and his lawyer, Joe Ledford, would not discuss the allegations because the school board was still investigating.

"It has not been the best of weekends for Coach Seacord and going back to Providence was probably real hard for him," Ledford said. "He has gotten hundreds of calls and letters from former players and students expressing their love and respect. I think that's the real measure of a coach's success."

One player said that during halftime of a Sept. 15 game against Vance High School, Seacord asked the team's center if he was satisfied with the way he was playing and satisfied with his life.

When the boy answered yes to the second question, the player said Seacord followed by telling him " ...you may as well go ahead and put a gun to your mouth and pull the trigger," the player said.

Another player said that when he complained of cramps and a sore shoulder during preseason workouts in August, Seacord grabbed him by the lip and asked "What hurts worse, your shoulder or your lip?" before sending him back out to practice.