OHSAA bans defending Div. V champ Ironton from playoffs

COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association has removed Ironton High School from participation in the upcoming football playoffs because of numerous violations of OHSAA's recruiting bylaws over the last seven years. The OHSAA announced the decision Saturday, one day before the first-round pairings for the 54th state playoffs were announced. During the last several weeks, the violations were discovered by the OHSAA and shared with administrators and the coaching staff at Ironton. Because of the extent of the violations, the penalties include a postseason ban this season, a postseason suspension of some members of the coaching staff next year (if they are coaching at an OHSAA member school), three years probation and a $7,500 fine. The district also agreed to change local policies on enrollment and transfers and attend an educational seminar presented by the OHSAA staff. The postseason penalties and probation are specific to the football program. Any additional violations of the recruiting bylaws during the probationary period will result in automatic postseason ineligibility for the next available tournament. The OHSAA will not require Ironton to forfeit wins from previous seasons and the school will retain its 2024 Division V state championship. The Fighting Tigers went 15-1 last season and defied Liberty Center, 28-17, in the state championship game. This season, Ironton was 8-1 heading into its final game of the regular season against Portsmouth (7-2) on Oct. 24. In that game, Ironton allowed an ineligible student-athlete to participate, which resulted in a forfeit. In the final computer ratings Sunday, Ironton was placed at the bottom of Region 19 in Division V. This season would have been Ironton's 41st all-time playoff appearance, which would have tied Cincinnati Moeller for the most in OHSAA history. 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. 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, the OHSAA said. The Ironton district may choose to include additional penalties.