December 4, 2002
A series of penalties involving Quincy (Sr.) High School, its head boys basketball coach, and a transfer student now attending the school for violation of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) recruiting by-laws were announced today (Dec. 4) by IHSA Executive Director Dr. Martin L. Hickman. The school has been informed of the findings and penalties.
Penalties
Quincy (Sr.) head boys basketball coach Loren Wallace has been suspended from coaching at any IHSA member school for a period of one year, commencing Dec. 3, for exercising undue influence to secure the attendance of Brooks Allen at Quincy (Sr.) High School. (By-laws 3.071, 3.073 and 6.010)
A transfer student from Pittsfield to Quincy (Sr.), has been ruled permanently ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities at Quincy (Sr.) as a result of his recruitment to the school. (By-law 6.010).
Quincy (Sr.) High School has been placed on probation for one calendar year commencing Dec. 3, 2002. (By-law 3.073)
Quincy (Sr.) High School is required to submit a plan of action detailing the steps it will take to insure future violations of the IHSA recruiting by-laws do not occur. The school has until Dec. 20, 2002, to submit its plan to the IHSA Executive Director.
Findings
Facts pertinent to the Executive Director's ruling include, but are not limited to, the following:
Coach Loren Wallace met with Brooks Allen and Bryce Bushmeyer following a phone call to Coach Loren Wallace from Bryce asking if he could bring over a potential basketball player who was considering transferring to Quincy High School. This meeting took place prior to the Allens enrolling Brooks in Quincy Senior High. The Quincy basketball program and Brooks Allen's potential in it were discussed.
On or about August 15, Coach Loren Wallace received a phone call from Rich Allen, father of the Pittsfield student, to arrange a meeting with Wallace in the Wallace home. The Allens were concerned about the coaching philosophy at Pittsfield and had questions regarding their son's potential transfer to Quincy (Sr.).
Following the August phone conversation, Coach Wallace met with Mr. and Mrs. Allen and Brooks at his home in Quincy. This meeting took place on August 19, 2002. The family wanted to meet with Coach Wallace to determine if Brooks might be able to play for Quincy Senior High School. At the meeting, Coach Wallace indicated that being in the Little Devil and Devil program was not a prerequisite to making the varsity team. He also indicated that if Brooks worked hard he would have as much chance as anyone to make the team.
At no time did Coach Loren Wallace direct the family to the administration at Quincy Senior High School. Coach Wallace had previously been directed by the Quincy (Sr.) administration not to meet with potential players or families of students who were not enrolled in the district.
On August 26, 2002, Brooks Allen and his younger sister attended the first day of school at Pittsfield High School. On August 28, 2002, Brooks Allen began attending Quincy Senior High School. His sister began attending Quincy Junior High School.
When Brooks Allen began attending Quincy Senior High School he was residing with the captain of the Quincy Senior High School Boys Basketball Team, Bryce Bushmeyer. In the meantime, his sister was transported each school day by a family member from Pittsfield to Quincy Junior High.
Brooks Allen was allowed to enroll and attend Quincy Senior High School prior to his family establishing a residence in the Quincy Public School District.
On September 6, 2002, Shelly Allen, mother of Brooks Allen, completed and signed an Affidavit of Residence indicating that Brooks and Shelly Allen had been residing at 1611 Mar-Jan Court in Quincy for one month. None of the Allens ever resided at the 1611 Mar-Jan Court address. The family did not reside in Quincy until September 13, 2002, when they reportedly moved from Pittsfield.
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."
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 Brooks Allen from Pittsfield to Quincy (Sr.) High School. The results of our comprehensive review of the situation clearly indicate violations did occur. Our penalty by-law in which undue influence is a factor mandates the penalties that have been levied."