01/19/16 – KHSAA Sanctions Graves County Boys’ Basketball for Bylaw 16 Violations

January 19, 2016 2015-2016 News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2016

The KHSAA has handed down sanctions to Graves County High School resulting from improper open gym activities involving its boys’ basketball program during the 2014-15 academic year. During the course of its investigation, the KHSAA found Graves County to be in violation of Bylaw 16 “Recruitment/Undue Influence” for conducting open gym activities where student-athletes from other member schools participated without express consent from their respective school’s principal designated representative.

In addition, Graves County boys’ basketball assistant coach Lyndon Dunning was found to be in violation of Bylaw 16 for impermissible contact with the family of a student-athlete at another member school (Hickman County) regarding the open gym activities.

“Graves County Schools will in no way tolerate violations of the KHSAA Bylaws,” said Graves County principal Matthew Madding. “We take a great deal of pride in our compliant membership with the KHSAA and have already begun taking steps to ensure the issues at hand are corrected immediately.”

Upon conclusion of its investigation, the KHSAA handed down the following penalties:
· Graves County Assistant coach Dunning will be suspended for the next three (3) official contests beginning on Monday, Jan. 18th.
· All contracts for boys’ basketball games scheduled between Hickman County HS and Graves County HS shall be considered null and void, with neither team having forfeiture penalties applied.
· The Graves County boys’ basketball program is hereby placed on probation through the 2016-17 academic year. Such probation shall not prohibit Graves County from participating in postseason play. During this time, Graves County will be on conditional membership with the Association and shall be expected to take the necessary steps to remedy the problems which led to these violations. The KHSAA will assign an Assistant Commissioner to work with Graves County to ensure development of policies, procedures and best practices to implement within the athletic program.
· A fine in the amount of $1,500 was imposed on Graves County. The amount is an aggregate and consolidated penalty from the specific violations regarding the illegal contact and improper administration of offseason practices.

“The administration of Graves County High School has been forthcoming and cooperative throughout this review and I have every confidence that this situation was isolated and will not be repeated,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett.

The KHSAA will have no further comment on this matter. All media inquiries should be directed to the Principal at Graves County.

-KHSAA-

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 277 member schools both public and private. The KHSAA sanctions 43 state championships in 13 sports and 4 sport-activities, licenses and trains over 4,000 officials, provides catastrophic insurance for its more than 70,000 member school student-athletes, as well as overseeing coaching education and sports safety programs.