COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ironton High School will not be taking part in the 2025 football playoffs after the Ohio High School Athletic Association recently discovered “numerous violations of… recruiting bylaws over the last seven years.”
The district confirmed in a letter posted on social media that the OHSAA determined the coaching staff committed recruiting violations in 2018, 2019 and 2025.
“The OHSAA’s investigation determined that some members of the Ironton football program had engaged in ongoing and coordinated recruiting efforts, including communications with parents and students regarding methods to influence other prospective athletes’ enrollment,” reads an OHSAA press release. “Records show deliberate efforts to conceal recruiting activity, including direction on how to avoid leaving evidence of infractions, which demonstrates an awareness of wrongdoing and an intentional effort to circumvent compliance. The scope and coordination of these activities, as well as the number of impermissible contacts, represents a serious and pervasive violation.”
Penalties include:
- Post-season ban for 2025
- Post-season suspension of some coaching staff next year
- Three years of probation
- A fine of $7,500
The OHSAA clarifies that these penalties and probations are for the football program specifically.
The district said these penalties are being imposed by the OHSAA and that the school board has taken no action.
“The OHSAA’s determination followed an investigation during which we repeatedly advocated strongly for the District’s football program and its students, presented all rebuttal evidence available to us, and did everything we could in the short time provided to achieve a different outcome,” the district’s letter reads.
The OHSAA said it will not make Ironton give up its 2024 Division V state championship or forfeit wins from past seasons. However, they note Ironton allowed an “ineligible student-athlete” to play in its final regular season game on Friday, resulting in a forfeiture.
The district said they are disappointed in the OHSAA’s decision and the impact it has on their students.
“We want you to know, however, that the sanctions initially proposed by the OHSAA would have made our team ineligible to participate in playoffs for two years and their decision to remove the ban in the second year was a result of our advocacy on the team’s behalf,” the district’s letter reads. “We understand that many of you are upset. After consultation with attorneys who have the most successful experience with legal challenges to OHSAA determinations as well as multiple local attorneys, it was their collective recommendation that we accept the negotiated sanctions presented to us at this point in time.”
The OHSAA said the district will change enrollment and transfer policies as well as attend an educational seminar. If there are further violations of recruiting bylaws while the football program is on probation, it will lose postseason eligibility for the next tournament.
“Moving forward, we are fully committed to ensuring that appropriate corrective measures are taken to avoid any further adverse impact on our football program,” the district’s letter reads. “This is a setback, but this has not erased the hard work and accomplishments of our students as a team this year. We are so proud of them. We will not let this take away our pride or our legacy, and we will strive, as always, to uphold the values that define Ironton City Schools both on and off the field.”
Cody Thompson
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