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A high school football coach in the state of New York publicly called out the shady recruiting practices of a nearby rival. Joe Spagnolo of Iona Prep posted receipts of a Brunswick program’s brazen tampering efforts.
The coach accused a rival assistant of contacting at least one of his players through social media. It further fueled a transfer debate that’s swirled throughout the season.
Iona Prep is the No. 1 high school football team in the state of New York. The Gaels are a perfect 6-0 midway through the 2025 season with a stranglehold on the division standings.
Joe Spagnolo has been at the helm since the 2016 season. He’s gone 73-20 across nine years while winning three NYCHSFL state championships. Another could be on the way.
Success has brought attention to the program, some of which is unwanted.
Iona Prep involved in high school football controversy.
@CoachHallenbeck stop recruiting @ionafootball. We have a better program and would beat you by multiple TDs. Stay in your lane and find kids that need the opportunity. Not kids that already have offers/are being recruited. Does @BrunswickBruins & @coach_wayne55 approve of this? pic.twitter.com/arZXenrRNA
— Coach Joe Spagnolo (@Joespags12) October 15, 2025
The Gaels have talent, evidenced by their New York high school football dominance. This season is no different.
The team is off to an undefeated start and poised to make another deep playoff run. Joe Spagnolo is to thank!
With that being said, he wants to ensure success is sustained. That means keeping talent on his roster and out of the hands of nearby rivals.
The head coach attempted to do so with a public evisceration of an out of state school’s shameless recruitment of an Iona Prep player. He posted receipts of an alleged conversation between said player and a Brunswick assistant.
“Stop recruiting Iona football,” a message on X read. “We have a better program… Stay in your lane and find kids that need the opportunity.”
A social media conversation seems to show the Brunswick School QB coach reaching out to an Iona Prep player with hopes of luring him away.
“Our head coach likes your film,” the note said. “We’d love to get you to one of our games at Brunswick. Would love for you to see a presentation about our school, our program, check out our athletic facilities and see us compete.”
The player responded with, “My head coach said stop recruiting from programs that would beat you.”
Spagnolo’s posts reads as if multiple players were contacted by Brunswick. He wasn’t having it! The coach wasted no time in calling his rival out.
Transfer debates continue to make headlines.
Brunswick is located in Connecticut. Though it crosses state lines, the school is just 20 minutes down the road from Iona Prep. The two sides have faced off in recent years.
The legality of the recruitment can be called into question, though it’s something that’s been seen throughout high school football.
Most teams have access only to players in their areas. Some extend those boundaries through questionable maneuvers.
Earlier this year, a California high school was forced to forfeit games before firing its head coach amid a scandal that involved forged paperwork and impermissible booster benefits.
In Florida, an assistant was suspended for a tampering claim similar to what was seen with Brunswick.
The shady recruiting practices have resulted in competitive imbalances. A Nebraska high school, for example, cancelled a game against the top-ranked team in the area often accused of stacking its roster through controversial tactics.
On one hand, these loaded teams can provide certain cities and states with national attention that might not otherwise have been experienced. On the other, we’re seeing more and more programs opt to forfeit games, and even seasons, due to an inability to compete.
The high school football rat race is real. Everyone is trying to get to the top. Some are overstepping in order to do so. It’s led to questions about the health of the sport.