iStockphoto
A high school football program in the state of California continues to be put under the spotlight for shady recruiting practices. It’s now led to the firing of its head coach.
Bishop Montgomery is in complete disarray just three weeks into the 2025 football season. The situation went from bad to worse over the Labor Day weekend.
The problems started when the school was investigated by the CIF following a wave of incoming transfer talent. The school added 20+ new players in the offseason. The unexpected movement piqued the curiosity of the governing body.
Five players were ruled ineligible before the season opener on the grounds of falsified paperwork. A Bylaw 202 violation was referenced in the decision.
B. Penalty for Providing Incorrect, Inaccurate, Incomplete or False Information
“If it is discovered that any parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver or student has provided incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete or false information in regards to any aspect of eligibility status on behalf of a student, that student is subject to immediate ineligibility for CIF competition at any level in any sport for a period of up to 24 calendar months from the date the determination was made that incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete or false information was provided.”
The Bishop Montgomery high school football coach was fired.
Despite the player bans, the team was able to compete in its first game. It lost by a touchdown to Honolulu (Hawaii) St. Louis.
In the final moments of that contest, a midfield skirmish broke out, which resulted in a one-game suspension for those involved.
With an already thin roster growing thinner, Bishop Montgomery was forced to forfeit its second game against Mater Dei. Now, Week 3 has brought about further adversity.
Head coach Ed Hodgkiss was relieved of his duties. He had lost control of his program. The Knights’ football future remains unclear.
The roster issues have already caused major problems. Bishop Montgomery is having trouble fielding a team.
Its upcoming matchup against Leuzinger is currently in doubt. Eric Sondheimer of the LA Times believes a season forfeiture is possible.
If Bishop Montgomery were to cancel its season, players could seek a hardship waiver from the Southern Section to gain immediate athletic eligibility at another school without moving. When programs have been dropped in the past, that opens the way for hardship waivers. And Bishop Montgomery has lots of players other programs would welcome.
A decision on the program’s future is expected this week.
-Eric Sondheimer
The scandal has taken another turn.
“Money Man” Brett Steigh is a Los Angeles native that attended Narbonne High School. The gambler and local business owner began supporting his alma mater financially in the 2010s.
He detailed paying players’ parents to transfer to Narbonne without the head coach’s knowledge. He was sanctioned twice by the CIF City Section, and the school had a 2024 state championship vacated as a result of his actions.
Bylaw 510: UNDUE INFLUENCE, PRE-ENROLLMENT CONTACT, DISCLOSING PRE-ENROLLMENT CONTACT, ATHLETICALLY MOTIVATED TRANSFERS
(B) A student shall become ineligible for CIF competition for a period of one (1) year for accepting material or financial inducement to attend a CIF member school for the purpose of engaging in CIF competition, regardless of the source. This includes, but is not limited to, student individual endorsements that involve anyone from, or associated with [see D.(2) below], a school or its athletic programs.
In 2020, he agreed to support St. Bernard’s high school football program. He soon became the subject of FBI and IRS investigations, which he says turned up nothing.
The school shut down its football program in 2021, 2022, and 2023 after its head coach resigned amid the scandal.
Now, Steigh’s focus has turned to Bishop Montgomery. He admits to supporting the program at the direction of the school president.
His actions could again have major impacts. The program’s season is at risk as the investigation continues.
While he understands the gravity of the situation, he insists he hasn’t done anything that his rivals aren’t. Everyone is looking for a competitive advantage.
Bishop Montgomery now awaits the decision on its future.