Elyria Catholic placed on probation by OHSAA for football recruiting violation

Elyria Catholic football committed a recruiting violation, according to the Ohio High School Athletic Association, and the school will now be on probation for the remainder of the school year.

The OHSAA sent out the following on Friday morning: 

"Elyria Catholic High School violated Bylaws 4-9-2 and 4-9-4 #3, Recruiting, when a football coach had impermissible contact with prospective student-athletes prior to applications being submitted to the school for potential enrollment. 

In accordance with Bylaw 11, Penalties, the Executive Director’s Office, has issued the following sanctions: 

1) Elyria Catholic High School has been publicly reprimanded; 

2) Elyria Catholic High School has been placed on probation for the remainder of the 2023-24 school year; and 

3) Elyria Catholic High School is required to conduct a recruiting seminar with all members of the football coaching staff." 

The football staff is headed by Chase Farris, who took over prior to this season. The former Ohio State Buckeye's staff also includes two other former Buckeyes in Doran Grant and 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.

The Panthers are coming off a 2022 season that saw them make it to the Division IV regional finals before losing to eventual state champion Glenville. 

Elyria Catholic is currently 2-4 and sits at No. 15 in Division IV, Region 14 in the latest OHSAA computer rankings. They are currently No. 67 in the SBLive Ohio Division IV computer rankings. 

-- Ryan Isley | ryan@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveoh