Bishop Noll junior boys basketball player Lamous Brown was ruled ineligible by the Indiana High School Athletic Association and the school was notified of the findings of the investigation Monday.
IHSAA sports information director Jason Wille confirmed Brown's ruling came from a violation of Bylaw 19-4, which states his move from Chicago Harlan was for "primarily athletic reasons or the result of undue influence."
Warriors coach Drew Trost is no longer a member of the school's administration staff but will remain the head boys basketball coach.
In a letter to BNI families dated Nov. 20, Principal Colleen McCoy-Cejka stated Trost had resigned from his role as assistant principal.
"Earlier this month, Drew Trost stepped down from his positions as admissions director and assistant principal. For the remainder of the year, Mr. Trost will be a staff member assigned to teaching duties and various school projects related to school improvements/accreditation."
Trost said that the IHSAA has issues with coaches working in a school's admission's department.
"We were advised by the IHSAA that coaches should not hold a position in admissions," Trost said. "Therefore, we thought it would be best for me to go back to teaching math."
Brown must sit out 365 days from the time he enrolled at Noll on Aug. 17. The 6-foot-10 basketball star played at Harlan last school year.
Bowman Academy coach Marvin Rea confirmed Brown played some summer games with his team. Roosevelt coach Renaldo Thomas confirmed Brown and his mother talked to the Panthers about attending the Gary school.
Warriors athletic director Marianne Galfano said Harlan Principal Reginald Evans contacted the IHSAA when he learned Brown had left. She strongly refuted what Harlan coach Ervin Bryant stated in the story that ran in The Times on Nov. 6.
Bryant said, "We were never contacted by Bishop Noll or any school to send his transcripts. We never did send transcripts or grades."
"That is not the truth," Galfano said.
She said Evans learned another administrator at his school signed the transfer paperwork over the summer.
Galfano said the IHSAA resent the transfer documents and everything was signed by both schools in the last two weeks. When asked why he was ruled ineligible, she wasn't sure.
"I do not know why," Galfano said.
The first-year athletic director at Noll said the school can not appeal the IHSAA's decision, but Brown's family can. The family can take its case to the IHSAA Review Committee first, and the Case Review Panel secondly if it so chooses.
"I spoke with the student's mother on Monday to tell her about the decision," Galfano said. "I do not know if they plan to appeal."
Trost hopes that this situation will keep Noll on its toes for any future issues.
"We will respect the IHSAA's decision and continue to work tirelessly to always be in compliance with their rules," Trost said.
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