Attorney: Hamilton football replaces Tim Dougherty as defensive coordinator in response to probation
Chandler Hamilton has moved on from Tim Dougherty as its football defensive coordinator for this season, believing this will lift the probation imposed by the Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Board last week, according to Rocky Finefrock, Dougherty's attorney.
On Wednesday afternoon, a notice signed by Hamilton High School through the Chandler Unified School District, was sent to Hamilton football families that defensive line coach Parker Barrett will be assuming the defensive coordinator duties.
Finefrock, who has a son playing on the varsity, sent a copy of the notice to The Republic on Wednesday evening.
There is no mention in the notice of Dougherty, who was accused of a recruiting violation that led to the AIA board placing the program on probation last week. The move means the Huskies are not eligible for the playoffs.
"Obviously, it doesn't say anything about Dougherty but it begs the question, 'What's going to happen?' " Finefrock said. "I think he's probably on paid administrative leave. He's still going to teach. But my feeling is that they're going to fire him at the end of the year.
"But there's going to be a lot more to the story. There are some other issues there that I wasn't aware of that puts him in a better negotiating position for something down the road. But that's going to be something bigger, later."
Hamilton and CUSD officials are scheduled to meet with the AIA Executive board on Tuesday for its appeal hearing in an attempt to reduce the probation in order to be eligible for the 2022 state playoffs.
Athletic Director Brett Palmer referred questions about Dougherty's status at Hamilton to a district spokeswoman.
When asked in an email if Dougherty will be suspended as coach for the season, CUSD spokeswman Stephanie Ingersoll responded, "The district is unable to share further information at this time."
"They've sacrificed their defensive coordinator for the playoffs," Finefrock said.
For subscribers: Hamilton High School has one play to call if it hopes to salvage its football season
Hamilton, in a corrective action to the AIA this summer, had initially suspended Dougherty from all team activities for the first three weeks of the season for his alleged contact with a Laveen Cesar Chavez football player through direct message on Twitter.
Dougherty paid the player a compliment, and, in the Twitter exchange, explained how Hamilton turned Russell Davis into the most dominant defensive end in his last two high school seasons.
The player never transferred to Hamilton. But Cesar Chavez Athletic Director Lenny Doerfler reached out to Hamilton AD Brett Palmer with screenshots of the direct message exchange and Palmer after that occurred. An investigation then began with Dougherty signing off on the three-game suspension.
The AIA still put Hamilton on probation during its first Executive Board meeting of the school year.
Since then, Finefrock came on to represent Dougherty in legal matters.
Finefrock drew a comparison to Goodyear Desert Edge football, which was given a warning by the AIA board in March and not placed on probation for an alleged recruiting violation. He said that should have been considered when the board took up Hamilton's case.
"I'm really disappointed just as a fan, as a father," Finefrock said. "I want people to be supportive of each other, whether they're up or whether they're down.
"I'm disappointed with the process. You're offering three weeks of a suspension, which that seems like a heavy hand to him just for a compliment. I think in the short term families are going to like this. I just don't know how you're going to win and get to the playoffs if you don't have one of the best defensive coordinators in the state, and that's not taking anything away from Parker Barrett."
When head coach Mike Zdebski brought in Dougherty, who was a successful high school coach in Illinois, to become his defensive coordinator three years ago, Hamilton's fortunes turned around. The Huskies reached the Open Division playoffs each of the three years there's been an Open, nearly beating Chandler in the 2020 Open final if not for a missed short field goal in waning moments.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Attorney: Hamilton football replaces Tim Dougherty as defensive coordinator in response to probation
