Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent defends judge’s ruling to let Hayfield play in postseason

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA (DC News Now) — In one letter Superintendent Michelle C. Reid was sent to the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) community and outlined changes in some athletic practices following the conflict between the Hayfield High School football team and the Virginia High School League (VHSL).

In August, Reid said the VHSL deemed every Hayfield Hawks player eligible to play on its football team. Two months later, it banned the entire team from participating in the postseason this year and next year “without any specific evidence of recruitment or other violations.”

The Fairfax County School District cleared the program in August of any wrongdoing related to the transfers and eligibility of several players after Darryl Overton took over Hayfield earlier this year. He left Freedom High School in Woodbridge, where he led the program to back-to-back state titles.

No one from the school district or VHSL said if that was the reason for the recommendation.

Reid said the ambiguities within VHSL rules and policies have left coaches, athletes, parents and fans frustrated.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fairfax County high school football team could be banned from the playoffs for two years, Virginia High School League says

Last week a The Fairfax County Circuit Court judge reversed the VHSL’s two-year ban, which ruled that Hayfield football could play in the postseason and that the organization violated its own rules by imposing the ban.

Six FCPS football coaches said they would boycott the playoffs if Hayfield was not held accountable for his “recruiting practices.”

The six coaches were Trey Taylor of Fairfax High School, Mike Dougherty of Lake Braddock Secondary School, Anthony Parker of West Springfield High School, Gerry Pannoni of South County High School, Chadwick Louisville of West Potomac High School and Chad Lewis of Edison High School.

“This decision (to boycott) does not come lightly as we understand the disappointment and impact on our athletes and supporters,” reads a letter obtained by DC News Now through a Freedom of Information Act Request. “We believe, however, that this course of action is necessary to uphold the principles of honesty and responsibility that we have been entrusted to teach.”

Nate Daniels, a Fairfax High football alum and former professional football player, said he is thinking about the players, especially the seniors.

“As a coach or as a leader of guys, you have to make sure that whatever decision is made, you let them know it’s in their best interest,” he said. “The best interests of the program and the best interests of the integrity of Northern Virginia football going forward.”

Reid said Tuesday night she met with the coaches and principals whose school communities have been affected. She said the meeting focused on their shared goal of keeping student-athletes at the center of any next steps.

“I have made it clear that we will not be in this situation again,” she said.

As a division, FCPS will take the following steps to ensure student-athlete eligibility standards are clear and aligned moving forward:

• A comprehensive and independent third-party investigation and review of all student-athlete transfers and eligibility practices in all sports and at all FCPS high schools.

• A review and revision, as appropriate, of FCPS athletics protocols and procedures under the direction of the Office of Student Activities and Athletics Programs, and in collaboration with coaches and administrators. This will include a division-wide review of current practices in evaluating student-to-athlete transfers, both within and outside the division.

The Executive Director of Student Activities and Athletics and Reid will host two “Community Conversations” on FCPS athletics rules and practices. One for schools in Class 6, Region C, and another for schools in Class 6, Region D.

“We also stand ready to work with the VHSL to improve their policies and processes regarding student-athlete eligibility. It is essential that we work with everyone involved to ensure we prepare for the evolution of the student-athlete experience we are seeing in our country. As we navigate uncharted waters in youth athletics, we must anchor our practices in clear rules and accountability systems that apply to everyone, regardless of circumstance. Access to excellence and opportunity – that is the American dream,” Reid concluded in his letter.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

For breaking news, weather, sports and streaming video, visit DC News Now | Washington, DC.