Boynton Beach files recruiting claim against former coach and Santaluces

Santaluces is facing allegations of violating FHSAA by-laws after new football coach Korey Banks was accused of recruiting Boynton Beach players while he was an assistant for the Tigers.

According to documents Boynton Beach High filed to the FHSAA, Banks contacted between 10-15 Boynton players, many of whom school officials say are expected to follow him to Santaluces.

Santaluces has 10 business days to respond to the allegations. School administrators could not reached for comment on Friday.

FHSAA by-laws forbid recruiting along with improper contact of students to urge them to attend a different school. Violation of those policies can range in fines between $2,500-5,000, plus added disciplinary measures, such as probation or reprimand.

Banks joined Boynton Beach’s coaching staff over the summer and served during the season as defensive coordinator. He also worked as a full-time substitute teacher this fall.

On Dec. 13, Banks — a Santaluces alum — was named the Chiefs’ new football coach.

Boynton Beach High officials claim Banks began recruiting players even before he was hired by Santaluces.

Banks, a former Mississippi State defensive back who later spent 10 seasons in the Canadian Football League, adamantly denied Boynton Beach’s claims.

“I don’t have to recruit kids,” Banks said. “Those allegations are not true. All I do is teach and coach football. It’s an assault on my character for them to say that.”

While teaching at Boynton, Banks allegedly spoke with players on campus, even pulling some out of class, in an attempt to convince them to transfer. A report filed to the FHSAA also claims Banks improperly reached out to players on social media and by texting.

Boynton Beach athletic director Evan Caruso said he learned of the violations when a Boynton player informed the Tigers coaching staff that Banks had tried to recruit him to Santaluces.

Caruso said after Banks was named Santaluces’ coach, “I went to our principal and said, ‘He has the job and is still on our campus actively recruiting kids. He needs to be gone now.’”

Shortly afterward, Boynton terminated Banks from his teaching position. However, a few hours later, Caruso saw Banks at the school talking to football players. Banks was then escorted off campus by Boynton officials.

The incident, Caruso siad, “shows he could care less in terms of policies and procedures.” Banks refuted Caruso’s claims. “I never left campus,” he said. “[Boynton Beach school officials] said I can leave whenever I want. I stayed and left right after lunch.”

While offseason player transfers are common, recruiting remains a breach of FHSAA rules. Next fall, when new legislation takes effect that will make switching high schools much easier, transfers will likely pick up.

Beginning with the 2017-18 school year, students will be allowed to attend any high school in the state, provided the school isn’t over capacity and the student can provide his own transportation. Recruiting will be forbidden, but the new policies will make enforcement difficult.

Boynton Beach, filing its complaint to the FHSAA on Dec. 23, included written testimony from three players that Banks had recruited them.

One player said he was in class when Banks asked a teacher if he could speak with him outside of the classroom. He said Banks told him about the new coaching job and then later called him, saying he “needed him” at Santaluces.

Another athlete said Banks asked him to transfer to Santaluces and that “he already has a bunch of kids going with him.”

Banks said both of the alleged interactions never occurred.

Banks was hired to reinvigorate the Santaluces program on the heels of the Chiefs’ 0-10 season. The team’s last playoff appearance was in 2009 and last postseason win in 2001.

Boynton Beach, under secondyear coach Errick Lowe, finished this past season 6-4 with an appearance in the regional quarterfinals. Boynton, which allowed 19.3 points per game, surprised many by finishing as District 15-6A runner-up, edging out Boyd Anderson in a threeway tiebreaker.