Ala. athletic association creates team to investigate transfers

Alabama’s athletic association is combating illegal transfers by creating a team to vet and investigate cases at the state’s high schools.

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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