Ala. athletic association creates team to investigate transfers
Alabama High School Athletic Association Executive Director Steve Savarese told AL.com that the newly-developed investigative team will have a $100,000 budget to police transfers. Savarese was given approval by the association’s Central Board in January to create the team.
“Their job is to evaluate transfers or anything else we ask them to evaluate,” Savarese said. “They’re going to make sure no third party was involved (in a transfer).”
Savarese explained that the team features a private investigator, a former investigator for the Attorney General’s office, a retired investigator with the Alabama State Troopers, a retired school administrator and an investigative journalist.
Savarese said the team has already begun work and will primarily investigate transfers.
This is an extreme step for a state association, and Savarese added that he’s “embarrassed” such drastic measures need to be taken.
Recruiting in high school sports has been a problem in many states, and the majority of coaches and athletic directors believe enough isn’t done to prevent it.
In July, Coach & Athletic Director asked readers whether they thought enough was done to prevent illegal recruiting in their state, and 88.9% said no.
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