Recruiting violation lands Paramus Catholic (New Jersey) football on probation

Paramus Catholic, winner of three New Jersey high school football state championships in the 2010s, has been found guilty of illegal recruiting.

The football program was placed on two years of probation and ordered to miss the postseason in 2022, nj.com reported, but the Paladins are 1-4 this season and went winless the past two seasons.

Paramus Catholic alum Greg Russo, the offensive coordinator for the Paladins when they won state championships in 2012, 2013 and 2016, had returned as head coach over the summer. He's the program's third head coach in four years.

They haven't had a winning season since taking the state championship in 2016.

The infraction that brought on the probation and postseason ban was the illegal recruitment of a player from Belleville High, nj.com reported.

Paramus Catholic has an extremely tough four opponents remaining on its schedule this season — Seton Hall Prep, St. Peter’s Prep, Don Bosco Prep and Bergen Catholic.

(Photo by Michael Karas/NorthJersey.com/USA TODAY NETWORK)