I know you’ve heard about Stephanie Butler being fired as head coach of the Butler High School Lady Bulldogs because of alleged recruiting violation.

Obviously, there are many unanswered questions, and Butler so far has been quiet. If there’s a reason to appeal, I would imagine she will consider that option.

Meanwhile, this has to be tough for her former players. The Lady Bulldogs just won the 4-A State Championship and was favored to win it again next year... and now this.

Personally, I’m not shocked that this has happened to a local high school coach.

For years rumors have swirled about illegal recruiting in high school sports. It’s more surprising that CMS, in the case of Butler, gathered enough proof to remove her.

That hasn’t always been the case. Remember Tommy Knotts?

He won several state football championships while coaching at Harding, West Charlotte and Independence. It was at his last stop when all the rumors of recruiting seemed to catch up to him and CMS launched an investigation back in 2008.

By the summer, the results were in, and none of the allegations stuck. Knotts coached two more seasons before leaving to become athletic director and head football coach at Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, S.C.

I’m not saying Butler was treated differently because I don’t know the facts. What’s clear is this: Anytime you have talented players moving from one school to another, it is sure to raise some red flags, especially when it happen over and over.

Maybe the players are moving because of friendships they built during AAU season/summer camps. Or maybe it’s because of shenanigans involving coaches and parents. Maybe it’s a mixture of both.

It’s the student-athletes who suffer for the bad decisions of adults. It’s a hard lesson but hopefully our young people can learn from the mistakes we make.
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Damon Ford is a former journalist who is now a public relations professional working in the public and private sectors in Charlotte.
 

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