The self-report detailed a meeting with Eagle and an athlete from another school. The GSHL ADs also ruled on May 6 that assistant coach Dan Kielty would be suspended for one game for his role with the meeting.
The WIAA rule violation report said the coach/athlete meeting fell under Illegal Recruiting under the WIAA’s Handbook (Rule 27.1.0 B).
Camas officials appealed that decision to the District 4 board, which covers all of Southwest Washington. That board reduced Eagle’s penalty to three games, but increased Kielty’s suspension to three games as well as fined the school $2,000 and placed the athletic program on probation for a year.
Camas school officials declined comment for this story.
None of the 4A GSHL athletic directors who voted in the initial ruling voted in the District 4 appeal.
There are nine WIAA districts, and the directors of those districts will hear the next appeal. District 4 will not vote in that appeal, Colbrese said.
While not confirmed, some have suggested that one of the reasons for the appeal is the language in the WIAA Handbook. Rule 27.1.0 B states: “Inducing or attempting to induce or encourage any prospective student to attend … any member school for the purpose of participating in athletics, even when special remuneration or inducement is not given, is a violation.”
The coach and the athlete met and they discussed eligibility requirements as well as football, according to Camas’ self report. While the meeting was ill-advised, according to the self-report, Camas officials do not agree that Eagle attempted to induce or encourage the athlete to move to Camas to play football.
Two governing bodies ruled that the meeting itself — because no one but the parties involved know what was said or done — was a violation.
Colbrese said he would not comment on the specifics of this case during the appeals process.
In general terms, though, he noted that the WIAA counsels coaches that if a prospective athlete contacts the coach and inquires about moving to his or her school, it should be turned over immediately to the school administration.
Colbrese does not have a vote in the appeals process.
If the process goes to the Executive Board, the board can make a ruling that day or request that a fact-finder investigate the case, Colbrese said. If that occurs, a final decision might not be made until sometime this summer.
