Columbus, Ohio - Villa Angela-St. Joseph's athletic program was placed on probation for three years and fined today, the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced after completing its investigation into the boys basketball program. VASJ was found in violation of bylaw 3-1-1 for lack of monitoring compliance with OHSAA bylaws, as it relates to its boys basketball program.
Columbus, Ohio - Villa Angela-St. Joseph's athletic program was placed on probation for three years and fined today, the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced after completing its investigation into the boys basketball program.
VASJ was found in violation of bylaw 3-1-1 for lack of monitoring compliance with OHSAA bylaws, as it relates to its boys basketball program.
As a result, an action plan has been prescribed for administrators to implement within the athletic program. The amount of the fine was not disclosed.
Also, two unnamed players at the private school on Cleveland's East Side have been found in violation of bylaw 4-10-2 that covers amateur status. The players have been ruled ineligible at VASJ or any other OHSAA-member school for the first three games of the 2010-11 season.
The OHSAA news release states:
After receiving information in April regarding concerns over how students in the boys basketball program have been secured to attend the school along with how financial aid has been awarded and distributed, OHSAA administrators reviewed the information with the Villa Angela-St. Joseph administrative head and conducted interviews with student-athletes and their parents. When it was determined that violations had occurred, bylaw 11, penalties, permitted the OHSAA to administer the sanctions.
The OHSAA's action plan includes the school taking measures to educate coaches on eligibility bylaws; submitting evidence that all coaches have completed the State Department of Education's required Pupil Activity Supervisor Permit; preparing and distributing information to prospective students and their parents on how financial aid is awarded and distributed; and assisting the OHSAA in educating other Northeast Ohio Diocesan administrators on what can and cannot be done to secure students who are interested in interscholastic athletics participation.
In April, VASJ administrators decided not to renew the boys basketball coaching and teaching contracts of Dave Wojciechowski. At the time, Brian Menard, president of Villa Angela-St. Joseph, would not confirm or deny that the OHSAA's investigation was tied to the non-renewal of Wojciechowski's contracts. Wojciechowski, a 1990 graduate of St. Joseph, coached at the school for 10 seasons.
VASJ hired Babe Kwasniak, a 1994 VASJ graduate, as its new coach in May.