ELYRIA, Ohio — The Elyria Catholic High School athletic department has been placed on probation for the rest of the 2023-24 academic year following allegations of illegal recruiting by head football coach Chase Farris.
According to the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), Farris violated two of its bylaws when he "had impermissible contact with prospective student-athletes prior to applications being submitted to the school for potential enrollment." As such, Elyria Catholic was also "publicly reprimanded" and the football staff will be required to sit through a recruiting seminar.
3News reached out to EC athletic director Jim Piazza Friday, and he claimed Farris' actions were "inadvertent." Per Piazza, the coach had just left football weightlifting back on April 4 when he accidently wore an Elyria Catholic sweatshirt to a ceremony honoring an Elyria High School student "whom he mentors." Elyria High then filed a recruiting complaint with the OHSAA, and while no further details regarding Farris' specific activity at the event, Piazza says the association's final report found "there is no tangible evidence to directly corroborate and/or refute these claims, aside from hearsay on each side."
Farris, a former star at Elyria, was a key member of the offensive line on Ohio State's 2014 national championship team who later played briefly in the NFL and won a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots. He was hired as EC's coach this past offseason and brought a number of other former Buckeyes to his staff, including 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and fellow national title winner Doran Grant.
It does not appear these penalties will affect Elyria Catholic's eligibility for the 2023 postseason. The Panthers are currently 2-4 on the year and are scheduled to host North Olmsted Friday night.