OHSAA penalizes Akron Hoban football

Staff report

COLUMBUS

The Ohio High School Athletic Association has released its initial penalties against Akron Hoban High School for recruiting violations.

The initial penalties include a postseason coaching suspension for head coach Tim Tyrrell if Hoban qualifies for the playoffs.

In addition, Hoban is placed on probation for the remainder of the 2016-17 school year and all of the 2017-18 school year, and Tyrrell will be limited to a total of five days of contact with the Hoban football team next summer.

The investigation into Hoban’s football program is still ongoing.

The penalties stem from a violation of OHSAA Bylaw 4-9-2 — Recruiting, when Tyrrell initiated contact in the fall of 2015 with a student at St. Hilary Elementary School.

“As a veteran coach and the current athletic administrator at Archbishop Hoban, we believe that Tim Tyrrell was aware his actions were in violation of the OHSAA’s recruiting bylaw,” said Dave Gray, OHSAA interim commissioner. “Rather than wait until the investigation concluded, which could be toward the end of the season, we felt compelled to announce these penalties now so the team and school have time to make the appropriate accommodations.”