FHSAA sides with Arnold in recruiting allegations
Organization decides that former Mosley athlete Williams' transfer was within bounds of rules
The Florida High School Athletic Association has found no wrongdoing in the transfer of Eddie Williams from Mosley High School to Arnold.
Mosley football coach Perry Brown filed a complaint May 22 with the FHSAA alleging Arnold coach James Hale made improper contact with Williams and his uncle in an effort to recruit the rising sophomore to play for the Marlins. The FHSAA determined that proper transfer procedures were followed and ruled that Hale and Arnold didn't violate its recruiting policy. The FHSAA considers the matter closed, Associated Executive Director Sonny Hester said on Monday.
Williams transferred to Arnold during the spring and took part in spring football practice. Last season, he saw significant playing time as a freshman at Mosley. He was used at safety on defense, and played both wide receiver and quarterback on offense.
Williams is widely regarded as one of the most gifted athletes in recent years to advance through Bay District Schools.
Hester said the FHSAA conducted its investigation through the complaint filed by Brown, written statements from Hale, Mosley Athletic Director Tim Jennings and Arnold AD Julie Hale, a sworn statement by Williams' uncle and telephone interviews with Bay District Schools Superintendent Bill Husfelt and former district Director of Extracurricular Activities Tommy St. Amant.
Brown said no one from the state contacted him after he filed the complaint.
"I wasn't interviewed and I was surprised when I never heard from anyone on it," Brown said. "I'm surprised the state didn't contact me because I was the one who actually wrote it (the complaint) up."
Brown added that he had not seen any correspondence from the FHSAA regarding the ruling. He was at a football camp downstate until today, and said he expects to speak with Jennings about the ruling.
Coach Hale maintained that Arnold complied with state policy in regard to Williams. He said he was pleased the matter was resolved, and added the team can move forward in the fall to prepare for another promising season. Coach Hale said he wouldn't speak of the issue again beyond Monday.
FHSAA Policy 38 outlines the organization's rules on recruiting. Representatives of a school, whether a coach or a student-athlete, are prohibited from contacting an athlete at another school in an effort to entice them to transfer. Athletes who change schools after their freshman year are required to file an Affidavit of Compliance with Policy 38 with the FHSAA, which states, under oath, they understand the rules and that they were not recruited to their new school.
Penalties for schools found in violation of Policy 38 include a fine, probation and restricted membership. Athletes who are deemed to have been recruited could be ineligible for athletic competition for one or more years at the school in which the violation occurred.
