AIA reduces Coolidge High athletic probation, will keep monitoring

Coolidge High School's sports teams are eligible for the postseason after the Arizona Interscholastic Association's executive board reduced its probation status to a warning on Monday, April 20.

That keeps the Bears from being banned from postseason activities, starting with the spring sports currently taking place.

In February, all of the school's athletic programs were placed on probation over unruly Coolidge fans who directed hostile taunts toward Chinle High players during a 3A playoff basketball game.

The basketball team was not at fault. But the AIA, after reviewing the film, felt that there was a lack of crowd control by Coolidge High, prompting the move to place the school's teams on a one-year probation. The AIA said it would review the matter in April after Coolidge agreed to take corrective actions.

Coolidge obtained a court order that allowed them to play the 3A basketball semifinal game, a 62-48 win over Snowflake at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 28. Coolidge then lost to Tucson Palo Verde in the 3A championship game.

"Over the course of the last six weeks, the AIA staff has met weekly with Coolidge High School regarding their corrective action plan," AIA Executive Director Jim Dean said.

"During this time, there have been changes to personnel. There have been substantial changes that have been verified by our team as it relates to their processes," Dean said, adding that reducing the probation is consistent with past actions where schools have taken corrective actions.

Coolidge removed Carlo Hernandez as athletic director. Tres Chapman is now the head athletic director for both the district and the high school, Coolidge superintendent Dawn Hodge said in an email to The Republic.

"We are grateful for the AIA’s review and the opportunity to demonstrate the steps we have taken to strengthen our athletic programs," Hodge said in the email. "While we are encouraged by the decision to move to warning, we recognize the issues that led us here and remain committed to continued accountability and improvement for our students."