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A high school football coach in the state of Florida has been suspended from coaching for one season after acting as a phony NIL agent.
He reportedly received $7,000 from a player in return for representation. In doing so, he broke multiple state statutes.
Hector Clavijo III is the coach under fire. An investigation into his activity was launched in April. The findings and punishment have now been made available.
Florida High School football coach suspended.
Clavijo is the head coach at Santaluces High School in the Palm Beach area. He was hired in 2021, taking over a one-win program and turning it into a contender.
He’s gone 30-14 across four seasons with the school. That comes after leading Champagnat Catholic to back-to-back FHSAA title games in ’19 and ’20.
On top of being a highly successful football coach, he advertises a second business on social media.
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He claims to be an “NFL and NCAA coaches’ agent” and “Director of Coaches” at Agency 1 Sports Group depending on which social media outlet you’re using.
He is not a licensed sports agent.
The Palm Beach Post says that Clavijo received a $5,000 bank transfer from a player, as well as a $2,000 Zelle payment, as part of an NIL agreement.
The deal broke FHSAA bylaws given the relationship between student-athlete and coach. Athletic department staff members are also barred from engaging in NIL representation.
The PB Post spoke to one source close to the situation that called Clavijo a snake.
One witness interviewed in the IG’s report expressed they felt that Clavijo III had a lot of athletes “brainwashed” and used the term “grooming” with regard to the coach’s involvement with student-athlete NIL negotiations.
They believe he is preying on young student-athletes while using his power to secure clientele. Clavijo blamed the suspension on his “being too nice.”
Either way, he will be off the sidelines for one full season. Assistant coach Samuel Putmon will fill in at Santaluces next year.