Tim Tyrrell, athletic director and head football coach at Archbishop Hoban High School, has received a postseason coaching suspension for a recruiting violation with an elementary school student.
During an investigation at Akron Archbishop Hoban High School, the Ohio High School Athletic Association found Tyrrell in violation of an OHSAA bylaw for recruiting after he made contact with a student at St. Hilary Elementary School in the fall of 2015.
According to the OHSAA bylaw on recruiting, all students enrolled in grade seven or higher are able to be recruited and are considered "prospective" athletes. The section of the bylaw violated by Tyrrell states:
...the term “recruit” shall mean the use of influence by any person connected or not connected with the school to secure the enrollment of a prospective student-athlete.
The Commissioner’s Office may suspend the privilege of participation in interscholastic athletics for up to 30 days during the pendency of any alleged recruiting violation.
EXCEPTION 1: It is permissible for coaches and other school employees of a public school
system to have contact with seventh and eighth grade students currently enrolled in that public
school district; however, coaches and other school employees in a multi-high school public
school district may have contact with only those students in grades seven and eight who are assigned by that district to attend that high school where the coach or school employee works.EXCEPTION 2: It is permissible for coaches and other school employees of a non-public school
system to have contact with seventh and eighth grade students currently enrolled in a non-public
school of the same type (Catholic Conference of Ohio, Ohio Association of Independent
Schools, Association of Christian Schools International or other category as denoted by the State
Department of Education) provided the boundaries of that non-public school system are clearly
defined and on file with the Ohio High School Athletic Association and the contact is restricted
to students enrolled within that defined boundary.
Click here to view the bylaw in full.
View an explainer of the section of the bylaw violated by Tyrrell:
OHSAA GUIDANCE ON BYLAW 4-9- RECRUITING – 2016-2017 by Faith Boone on Scribd
OHSAA followed up the investigation with this statement:
“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. We appreciate the cooperation of Hoban administrators and hope to conclude this investigation soon.”
As a result of OHSAA's investigation, Tyrrell received a postseason coaching suspension for the 2016 playoffs. He was also placed on probation for the remainder of the 2016-2017 school year, as well as for all of the 2017-2018 school year.
OHSAA said Tyrrell will only be able to have contact with the Hoban football team for five days during the summer of 2017.
What we know about Tim Tyrrell
According to the high school's website, Tyrrell was announced as the head football coach for the Hoban Knights in 2013.
He was previously the head coach at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in Florida and achieved a 39-18 record over five seasons. He was named " South Florida Coach of the Year" by two publications in 2009 and District Coach of the Year in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
Tyrrell was also a head coach at St. Thomas Aquinas in Louisville for seven seasons and was the tight ends/tackles coach for Youngstown State University from 1991 to 2001.
