Catholic football to see penalties from recruiting violation
Starting this season, the Knoxville Catholic High School football season will see a few different penalties following a recruiting violation involving a non-faculty assistant football coach.
Per a release from Knoxville Catholic, the violation involved impermissible communication from a coach to a prospective student-athlete via text, encouraging him to consider transferring to the school.
“This violation represents a clear departure from TSSAA regulations and from the standards of accountability and integrity we hold ourselves to as an institution,” the release read.
“As a result of this violation, Knoxville Catholic High School is self-imposing a two-year probationary period for the football program.
“This probation will include a one-year postseason ban for the 2026 football season. While the violation did not involve a member of the school’s faculty or administration, we are not here to assign individual blame. We recognize our responsibility to ensure that every aspect of our athletic program operates fully within both the spirit and letter of TSSAA regulations and in alignment with the values of Knoxville Catholic High School.”
“Our role as Catholic educators calls us to uphold the highest standards of honesty, responsibility, and integrity,” said Dickie Sompayrac, president of Knoxville Catholic High School. “We believe these self-imposed measures are the appropriate steps forward as we work to strengthen oversight, reinforce compliance and ensure that our athletic programs fully reflect the values and mission of our school and the TSSAA.”
Along with the self-imposed postseason ban, Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) penalized Catholic with two years of probation covering the 2026 and 2027 seasons, a fine of $2,000, a reduction of offseason football practice opportunities to five days during each year of the probationary period and a suspension of the offending coach for the first five games of the 2026 season.
“During this probationary period, the school will continue working closely with the TSSAA and will implement additional compliance procedures and oversight measures within the football program,” the release stated. “Our focus remains on providing an outstanding educational and athletic experience that emphasizes faith, leadership, discipline and personal growth.
We are grateful for the continued support of our students, parents, alumni and community as we
move forward together with transparency, humility and a renewed commitment to excellence.”
