West Charlotte football put on probation

West Charlotte High School must forfeit many or all of its victories from the 2007 football season, and its program has been placed on probation for the 2008-09 academic year, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials announced this morning.

A number of other penalties were assessed against the school and staff members, as the result of a CMS investigation into allegations that players used false addresses — with some assistance from West Charlotte staff members — to enroll improperly at the school.

Results of the investigation and the penalties assessed by CMS are being announced at a news conference this morning at the school system's Central Learning Community office.

The penalties include resignations of the head football coach and an assistant coach, and suspensions for two other assistant coaches. The school's athletics director has been cleared to return to work.

CMS officials said the investigation determined that two football players used false addresses to enroll improperly at West Charlotte High. The district also said one or two members of the coaching staff were involving in helping arrange the false addresses.

In addition, CMS said, several players not enrolled at West Charlotte at the time participated in the team's skill development sessions last spring.

CMS officials said earlier this month that a second investigation has been launched, focusing on Independence High School, the longtime North Carolina football powerhouse.

Penalties levied against West Charlotte as a result of the investigation:

— The football team must forfeit any of the victories from the 2007 season in which the student who provided a false address participated in. West Charlotte compiled a 13-2 record and reached the semifinals of North Carolina's Class 4AA playoffs.

— West Charlotte must return all revenues and awards its received from its participation in the playoff games. There is no immediate word as to how much money is involved.

— The school will be fined by the N.C. High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA). The amount of the fine has not been specified.

— West Charlotte’s football program will be on probation for the 2008-09 academic year. It is not clear if this action will have any affect on the school’s eligibility for postseason playoffs.

— Two students will be penalized for giving false addresses. They must sit out one game for every game in which they participated. If the students are freshmen, sophomores or juniors, the penalties will be assessed next fall. If they are seniors, the penalties will apply in the spring sports season. The penalties apply at any school which is a member of the NCHSAA (all public schools and a few private schools, including Charlotte Catholic).

— Maurice Flowers, head football coach and dean of students, has resigned, effective Feb. 29.

— Hazel Richardson, an assistant football coach and a physical education teacher, has resigned, effective Feb. 29.

— Two additional staff members, Anthony Sterling and Jeff Caldwell, have been suspended without pay for two weeks, beginning Monday (Feb. 18). Sterling and Caldwell are exceptional children/general curriculum teachers and assistant football coaches.

— CMS officials have lifted the suspension of Masanori Toguchi, the school's athletics director. He was suspended with pay Dec. 3, pending results of the investigation.

At this morning's news conference, CMS officials said the investigation did not reveal any evidence that Toguchi was involving in getting a false residence for a student who had listed his home as being at 2201 English Drive. That property is owned by Toguchi's grandmother.