August 28, 2002
A series of penalties involving Pontiac High School, its head football coach, and a transfer student now attending the school for violation of Illinois High School Association (IHSA) recruiting by-laws were announced today (Aug. 28) by IHSA Executive Director Dr. Martin L. Hickman. The school has been informed of the findings and penalties.
Penalties
Pontiac head football Coach Mick Peterson has been ruled ineligible to coach at any IHSA member school for a period of one year, commencing August 28, for exercising undue influence to secure the attendance of a student at Pontiac High School (By-laws 3.071, 3.073 and 6.010).
A transfer student from Streator (Woodland) has been ruled permanently ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities at Pontiac High School as a result of his recruitment to the school (By-law 6.010).
Pontiac High School has been placed on probation for the 2002-03 school term (By-law 3.073).
Pontiac High School is required to submit a plan of action detailing the steps it will take to insure that future violations of the recruiting by-laws do not occur. The school has until Sept. 20, 2002, to submit its plan to the Executive Director.
Findings
Facts most pertinent to the Executive Director's ruling include, but are not limited to, the following:
Streator (Woodland) High School did not concur with the transfer of the student to Pontiac High School and alleged that Pontiac High School violated recruiting by-law 3.070 inclusive.
Prior to March 17, 2002, Pontiac Football Coach Mick Peterson was contacted by Jason Aubry, the former football coach at Woodland, and asked whether he would be interested in having the student play at Pontiac High School. Aubry was told to have the student's family contact Peterson.
Coach Peterson received a call from the student's father on or about Sunday, March 17, 2002, inquiring about the student's participation in the Pontiac High School football program.
Following the March 17, 2002, phone conversation, Coach Peterson met with the student and his parents at Buster's restaurant in Pontiac. Coach Peterson brought video equipment to the restaurant and presented a video highlight film of Pontiac football entitled "The Perfect Fan" to the family for their review. Coach Peterson also presented the family with information regarding Pontiac High School football camps, passing leagues and the organizational meeting in April. Some of this information was communicated in writing and some was given orally.
After the March 17 meeting with Coach Peterson, the family contacted Pontiac High School to gather additional information regarding the school.
The student attended the April football meeting. The student and his family were living in the Woodland district at the time.
During June and July 2002, the student participated in Pontiac High School football camps and passing leagues. During this time, the student received the Pontiac High School Football Video Playbook. The student and his family still lived in the Woodland district, and the family had made no effort to enroll or register the student at Pontiac High School.
During June 2002, the student participated in the Bradley team basketball camp with students from Streator (Woodland) High School. The student and his family continued to live in the Woodland district.
Pontiac High School contends that its football camp and passing leagues are open to anyone. There is no evidence to suggest that is the case. The Pontiac football camp brochure clearly indicates that the camp is for "All Pontiac football players." Furthermore, other than a possible radio announcement, Pontiac High School made no effort to disseminate information regarding the football camps or passing leagues to members of the public or to anyone other than Pontiac High School students. A review of the camp and passing league rosters conducted by Pontiac High School has determined that since 1993, only three high school age students, in addition to the student in question, have participated in a Pontiac High School football camp while residing outside of the district. All of those students were visiting relatives in the Pontiac district when they attended the camp. No student from outside of the Pontiac district other than the student in question has participated on a Pontiac High School summer passing league team.
The student's family entered into an agreement to lease a residence in the Pontiac district on August 1, 2002. They moved into the Pontiac School District on August 1, 2002. The student registered for school at Pontiac High School on August 15, 2002.
Text of By-laws That Apply:
By-law 3.071: "Recruitment of students or attempted recruitment of students for athletic purposes is prohibited, regardless of their residence."
By-law 3.073: "It shall also be a violation of this rule to induce or attempt to induce or encourage any prospective student to attend a member school for the purpose of participating in athletics, even when special remuneration or inducement is not given.
"No member school and no one acting on behalf of any member school shall give any speech or give any slide, film or tape presentation or distribute any written material which states or implies that a member school's athletic program is better than the athletic program of any other member school or that it would be more advantageous for any prospective student-athlete to participate in athletics at that member school as opposed to any other school."
By-law 6.010 (Penalty for Violating Rules): "Any violation of the Constitution and/or By-laws, Terms and Conditions, IHSA Policies and Guidelines, and/or other rules of the Association shall be reported to the Executive Director, who shall have authority to investigate all alleged violations. The findings of the investigation shall be made known to the school (or schools), person (or person), alleged to have committed a violation. The Executive Director shall then have full authority to invoke penalties against such school or persons found to have committed violations. Penalties shall include, but not be limited to, written warning or reprimand, requisite affirmative corrective action, up to and including suspension and/or expulsion. Failure to take the corrective action required by any penalty shall be the basis for further action, up to and including suspension and/or expulsion.
"Persons found guilty of exercising undue influence to secure or retain the attendance of a student at a member school shall be ineligible to coach at an IHSA member school for one year. Sanctions shall also be imposed against the school represented by such persons.
"Students whose high school attendance is found to have been affected by undue influence to secure or retain the student at a member school shall be permanently ineligible at that school."
Comment from Executive Director Dr. Martin L. Hickman:
"This is a serious violation of the IHSA Recruiting By-laws. The Association conducted an extensive review of the circumstances surrounding the transfer of the student from Streator (Woodland) to Pontiac High School. The results of our comprehensive review of the situation clearly indicate violations did occur. Our penalty by-law in this case mandates the penalties that have been levied."