News Summary

Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, California has suspended its varsity football program for the entire 2025 season due to serious allegations of illegal player transfers influenced by booster funding. This decision follows an internal probe into violations reported to the CIF-SS after a significant influx of transfer players raised concerns. Incidents of violence during games further complicated the situation, leading to the dismissal of the long-time head coach. The school aims to rectify issues and restore trust in its football program by 2026, with a new interim coach appointed.

Torrance, California: Bishop Montgomery High School Football Program Suspended for 2025

Bishop Montgomery High School, nestled in the lively city of Torrance, California, has made a surprising decision to suspend its varsity football program for the entire 2025 season. This decision comes in the wake of serious allegations surrounding player transfers, specifically accusations that local booster funding led to illegal transfers into the school’s football program.

The Background

On Tuesday, the school officially announced the suspension following its self-reporting to the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section, known as CIF-SS, regarding suspected violations. An internal inquiry is currently in the works, which is being conducted alongside the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Department of Catholic Schools.

The backdrop of this turmoil includes an unexpected surge of over 20 transfer players that the school received during the offseason, which raised eyebrows and prompted further investigation. On August 20, the CIF-SS ruled five of these transferred players ineligible due to discrepancies linked to false information concerning their transfers.

Incidents of Violence and Aftermath

Adding to the confusion were incidents both on and off the field. A rather chaotic brawl during a game against St. Louis School in Hawaii ended the game prematurely, resulting in a 34-27 loss for Bishop Montgomery and leading to further player suspensions. This incident not only caused ripples within the team but also led to the forfeiture of a crucial upcoming match against the highly-ranked Mater Dei.

As the program faced growing troubles, long-time head coach Ed Hodgkiss found himself at the center of the storm, ultimately being let go after dedicating 15 years to the school’s football program.

The Booster Controversy

It seems the situation became even murkier with the involvement of a booster named Brett Steigh. He claimed to have funded transfers by compensating parents, suggesting he was merely “helping” the team. However, officials from the school vehemently denied this, distancing themselves from the actions of Steigh. He also publicly expressed that Hodgkiss was unfairly made a “scapegoat,” arguing he acted independently without the knowledge of the coaching staff.

School Administration’s Response

Compounding the issue, Bishop Montgomery allegedly reported additional violations concerning CIF rules that govern the transfer of students. The administration has since expressed regret for the lapses in oversight that allowed these situations to develop and has promised to take corrective actions to ensure compliance with regulations moving forward.

The school community—including both students and families—have been reassured of their commitment to remedy the existing issues, with hopes of returning to competitive play in the 2026 season. Currently, several players remain in limbo as their transfers are still pending clearance from CIF-SS.

A New Direction

In light of these developments, Mike Hall has been appointed as the interim head coach during this challenging transition for the program. The school issued a heartfelt letter of apology to its community, emphasizing their dedication to provide quality academic and athletic experiences while also working diligently to restore trust in the football program.

As Bishop Montgomery navigates through this challenging season of setbacks, all eyes will be on how they can rectify the issues and emerge stronger, laying a solid foundation for the future of their football program.

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