Katie McDevitt was booked into jail last Thursday on felony charges for grooming a 15-year-old softball player she coached, authorities said.
McDevitt, 28, allegedly targeted the teen while coaching her on the Georgia Strike softball team in Walton County, sending romantic messages and engineering situations where the two would be alone, according to an affidavit obtained by 11 Alive. The coach, who also taught at Loganville Christian Academy, allegedly continued her pursuit even after the girl’s mother discovered the communications and tried to put a stop to them.
“The accused had private communication channels with the victim even after intervention from the mother of the victim,” investigators wrote in the affidavit.
The alleged grooming unfolded between Feb. 1 and Sept. 22, during which McDevitt repeatedly found ways to isolate the player before and after practices at a hitting facility, the document states. She allegedly positioned their interactions outside the view of surveillance cameras, according to authorities.
The teen later told investigators about physical contact that left her uncomfortable, though the affidavit does not detail those interactions, the outlet reported.
McDevitt posted a $7,500 bond the day after her booking and was released from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office jail, according to authorities. She faces felony charges specifically for grooming a minor under Georgia law.
Loganville Christian Academy placed McDevitt on administrative leave immediately after school officials learned of the police investigation, the institution confirmed. The academy emphasized that the alleged victim was not enrolled at the school and that administrators had no knowledge of any allegations involving their own students.
“Georgia Strike is committed to the safety and well-being of our players, and our focus is on them and their families at this time,” the organization said in a statement to 11 Alive after cutting ties with the coach.
Georgia Strike Softball also confirmed that McDevitt was terminated from her coaching position shortly after being notified of the allegations by law enforcement. The organization did not specify when exactly it learned of the investigation or how long McDevitt had been associated with the team beyond her coaching role during the period in question.
The case highlights how predators in youth sports can exploit their positions of trust and authority, using private access and personal attention to isolate vulnerable athletes. McDevitt allegedly leveraged her role as both coach and trusted adult to create what appeared to be legitimate one-on-one training opportunities while allegedly pursuing a romantic and physical relationship with a minor.
McDevitt could not be reached for comment, 11 Alive reported.