Hamilton football, Queen Creek baseball placed on probation by AIA, ineligible for playoffs

The Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Board placed Hamilton High School's football team on probation Monday because of a recruiting violation, a decision that makes the team ineligible for the 2022 playoffs.

The decision came during the first Executive Board meeting to consider issues for the 2022-23 school year. Board member Toni Corona made the motion to put the program on probation over the violation. It was seconded and approved by the full board.

Jennifer Burks, athletic director at Perry High School, which is part of the Chandler Unified School District, recused herself from the voting. Hamilton also is part of CUSD.

The school has one week to send an appeal on the decision, said Executive Director David Hines.

The probation period lasts one year.

"The board had a lengthy discussion, and the issue of recruiting is a big deal," Hines said. "They felt like that was the appropriate action at this time."

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This decision stems from a direct message sent on Twitter in early July from Hamilton defensive coordinator Tim Dougherty to a Laveen Cesar Chavez defensive lineman who had been named the defensive lineman MVP award at a high school big-man event at the end of June.

Prior to Monday's meeting, Hamilton had said it was taking its own corrective action by suspending Dougherty for three games at the start of this season, which begins Sept. 2 for 6A schools. An appeal on the decision would be made to the AIA Board, allowing Hamilton to show it was taking further action of its own that warranted lifting the probation.

Hamilton Athletic Director Brett Palmer and CUSD Athletic Director Shawn Rustad were on hand at the meeting and gave their cases during an executive session that was closed to the media.

Hamilton Principal Mike De La Torre sent a letter to the Hamilton families that the CUSD shared with the media.

More: What legal options do Hamilton football families have in wake of team's AIA probation?

It states:

"Today the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Executive Board decided to put Hamilton High School on probation making the football team ineligible for the postseason. This decision comes in response to the school reporting to the AIA Executive Board recruiting violations by one of the team’s coaches. Prior to today’s decision, CUSD suspended the coach for three games; however, even after the district and school took corrective action and reported the issue, the AIA Executive Board made a decision that we feel directly impacts students and the team.

"We are disappointed in today’s outcome; however, we are in the process of determining next steps including a possible appeal. We have also already taken steps to prevent this from happening in the future through additional training to ensure all our athletic coaches understand the district’s expectations related to communicating with student athletes.

"Our focus now is on trying to make the season a positive experience for all students. As we move forward, please continue to respect the impact this decision has on the team and school."

Hamilton has been one of the top programs in the state over the past few years and was again expected to be among the top contenders for the Open Division championship.

It lost to Chandler two years ago in the Open final and lost to Scottsdale Saguaro in the semifinals of last year's Open playoffs.

Queen Creek baseball on probation

Also Monday, the board voted to place Queen Creek High's baseball team on probation over a pitch-count controversy that led to it forfeiting its state playoff win over Hamilton. That allowed Hamilton to stay alive in the 6A tournament, which it ended up winning.

The Queen Creek pitcher had thrown more pitches than was allowed before two-day's rest as required under AIA rules, and was determined ineligible to pitch against Hamilton.

Hines said that Queen Creek can also look into determining if it wants to appeal.

"It's a difficult decision," Hines said about the probation rulings on two top athletic programs at the start of the high school sports year. "Adults make decision that affect kids."

Hines said that the AIA can't force a school to fire a coach over an AIA violation. That goes through the schools and districts to make those determinations.

"In our system, as in all 50 associations and us (in the country), when decisions are made on probation, it affect the kids," Hines said. "What is a challenge for the AIA, those are personnel matters with the school districts. We cannot do things on a personnel matter through our board."

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: Hamilton football, Queen Creek baseball put on probation by AIA