Toledo Central Catholic Removed From OHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament; Coach Suspended And Napoleon Re-enters Tournament

(2-22-23) — The Central Catholic High School girls basketball team will not play in the remaining games in this year’s state tournament.

Yesterday, CCHS suspended head coach Ericka Haney days after a second recruiting violation within the program in recent months was announced.

Today, Central Catholic spokesman Brian DeBenedictis issued a statement saying the team’s season is now over.

“The Central Catholic girls basketball program has been removed from the 2022-23 Ohio High School Athletic Association State Tournament due to additional information that has come to light this week.”

Central Catholic finished the season 20-2 and were ranked #3 in the D II poll.

DeBenedictis released the following statement early Wednesday regarding the suspension:

“Central Catholic High School has become aware of new information regarding our girls’ basketball program. As a result of these new details, Ericka Haney has been suspended indefinitely as the girls basketball head coach. Additional information will be forthcoming soon.”

In a statement from OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute –

“Central Catholic administrators cooperated with the OHSAA investigation regarding the bylaw infractions, and has accepted the decision to be removed from the tournament. In addition, Central Catholic administrators have agreed to cooperate with the OHSAA’s comprehensive investigation in the coming months.”

Haney, who was in her third season as head coach, was suspended for the first four games of the season for a recruiting violation within the program. Last week at the OHSAA Board of Directors meeting it was announced the program committed a second recruiting violation since October.

The OHSAA said Central violated Bylaws 4-9-2, 4-9-4 #3 and 4-9-4 #3, recruiting, when a girls basketball assistant coach had

“impermissible contact with a perspective student athlete prior to an application fee being submitted to the school for potential enrollment.”

The following sanctions were issued:

Toledo Central Catholic is publicly reprimanded for its second girls basketball program violation of this nature.
The assistant coach shall be prohibited from coaching during the 2023 OHSAA Girls Basketball Tournament.
Toledo Central Catholic is required to conduct a recruiting seminar, led by an OHSAA compliance staff member, for all head coaches and any other personnel deemed appropriate.
Toledo Central Catholic has been fined $2,500.
Toledo Central Catholic’s girls basketball program shall be placed on probation through the 2024-25 school year.

The nature of the latest recruiting violation is not known and the name of the assistant coach who committed the violation has not been identified.

From the OHSAA Executive Board Meeting Minutes – 2-16-23

Toledo Central Catholic High School violated Bylaws 4 9 2, 4 9 4 #3, and 4 9 4 #4,
Recruiting, when a girls basketball assistant coach had impermissible contact with a prospective student athlete
prior to an application fee being submitted to the school for potential enrollment. In accordance with Bylaw 11,
Penalties, the Executive Director’s Office, has issued the following sanctions:

1.) Toledo Central Catholic is pub
licly reprimanded for its second girls basketball program violation of this nature;

2.) The assistant coach shall be
prohibited from coaching during the 2023 OHSAA Girls Basketball Tournament;

3.) Toledo Central Catholic is
required to conduct a recruiting seminar, led by an OHSAA compliance staff member, for all head coaches and
any other personnel deemed appropriate;

4.) Toledo Central Catholic has been fined $2,500, and 5,)

Toledo
Central Catholic’s girls basketball program shall be placed on probation through the 2024 25 school year. Any
additional recruiting violations which occur during the probationary period will result in additional penalties as
deemed appropriate by the Executive Director’s Office, including the team’s removal from the OHSAA Girls
Basketball Tournament

Napoleon will now re-enter the tournament after being given a 2-0 forfeit win over Central Catholic, the Wildcats had lost to Central Catholic on Saturday 63-22. TCC had won their Sectional game over Toledo Woodward 64-16 to start the tournament.