October 5, 1999
Findings
An IHSA investigation has found that Chicago (Westinghouse) Boys Basketball Coach Chris Head organized a team of Chicago area basketball players to compete in the AAU Junior National Championship Tournament in Orlando, FL, July 21-27, 1999. The investigation found that included on the team coached by Mr. Head were nine players from Westinghouse High School. In the tournament, the team participated in a total of eight games, five in pool play and three against teams advancing from their respective pools. Mr. Head confirmed that he did organize the team and did coach it during the games it played in the AAU Junior National Championship Tournament.
The investigation found that Chris Head and Chicago (Westinghouse) were in violation of IHSA By-law 2.090 (Season Limitation) and IHSA Policy No. 15 (Guidelines For Coaching/Supervising Non-School Teams).
Westinghouse has acted to prohibit its boys basketball team from beginning practice until Nov. 22, 1999 (two weeks after the starting date allowed in IHSA By-law 5.040). Westinghouse also has acted to suspend Coach Chris Head until Jan. 1, 2000, noting that he is to have no practice/game contact with his players during this time.
Rulings
IHSA accepts the corrective action implemented by Westinghouse, and Westinghouse High School is required to provide a written plan of steps it will take to enforce and insure compliance by Coach Chris Head and the Westinghouse boys basketball program with the corrective action the school has taken.
Westinghouse High School has been placed on probation in the Association until April 1, 2001.
Westinghouse Coach Chris Head is prohibited from having any contact with the Westinghouse boys basketball program in any respect at any level during the period of suspension. This means, for example, he may have no contact with players or other members of the coaching staff at a game or practice site, including the locker rooms; that he may not transport team members or in any other way provide them supervisory or instructional services related to the basketball program during the suspension period.
Comment From Executive Director Dave Fry
"The violations we have found in this case are very serious. The school’s corrective action is acceptable to IHSA. In light of the facts and circumstances of the matter, IHSA has imposed additional penalties. Probation is an official warning that any further violation of IHSA by-laws or other rules of the Association could bring more serious consequences."