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.
From AL.com:“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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