News Summary

Juan Diego Catholic High School has settled allegations of undue influence in the admissions process for international student athletes. The school admits to certain violations and will face penalties including fines and probation. This follows an investigation linked to the admissions of a student athlete and additional scrutiny over recruitment practices. As a consequence, the head basketball coach will receive a suspension, highlighting a significant need for institutional changes to ensure fair admission processes moving forward.

Allegations and Outcomes: Juan Diego Catholic High School Settles Controversy Over International Student Athletes

Salt Lake City, Utah – In a surprising turn of events, Juan Diego Catholic High School has reached a settlement regarding allegations of undue influence in the admissions process for international student athletes. This comes nearly a year after the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) first raised concerns about the school’s practices. The settlement admits to certain allegations while imposing penalties and mandates proof of institutional changes moving forward.

What Sparked the Investigation?

The finalization of this settlement quickly follows a hearing that took place on September 3 and 4 of last year. After a lengthy discussion, the school chose to settle rather than face a third hearing set for September 22. During the investigation, it became clear that the coach of the school’s basketball team, who also served as assistant principal overseeing admissions, admitted to improperly influencing the admission of an international student athlete named Derrelle Desire.

Desire, who played at Juan Diego during the 2022-23 school year, made a transfer to Corner Canyon High School for his senior year. The investigation gained momentum when Desire’s transfer triggered significant scrutiny, exposing broader allegations that suggested coaches were bringing international students to the private school for athletic purposes. In light of these findings, the UHSAA took decisive action by passing a new rule that restricts F1 visa holders from participating in varsity sports—though this rule is currently facing legal challenges from a student at Juan Diego.

Details of the Settlement

As part of the settlement, Juan Diego Catholic High School has acknowledged a lack of institutional control regarding the admissions process for students on F1 visas. This shortcoming has led to a series of consequences, including a $1,500 fine against the school, and the imposition of a two-year institutional probation. Any further violations during this probation period could result in even stricter sanctions.

The penalties don’t stop there; Drew Trost, the head basketball coach, faces a suspension for four games during the 2025-2026 school year due to his involvement in the violations. Parents connected to the school have reportedly expressed fears and concerns over potential retaliation for bringing these practices to light, illustrating the sensitive nature of this unfolding situation.

Revealing Underlying Issues

The hearing disclosed unprecedented allegations regarding the school’s recruitment habits that have allegedly persisted for over a decade, particularly affecting various sports including soccer, football, and basketball. Coach Drew Trost remains at the center of these scrutiny-filled claims, accused of leveraging the school’s international program to improve the competitiveness of the athletic teams.

One of the more startling developments came from a former significant donor to the school, who acted as a whistleblower after overseeing an international student and expressing concerns about the treatment he received from Trost. The spotlight is also on the admissions process for international students, as discrepancies in tuition payment collection and the management of financial aid documents have been called into question. Despite the mounting allegations, Trost firmly denied any accusations of offering financial inducements based strictly on the athletes’ performance during their admission process.

The Road Ahead

In what seems to be a twist of fate, Trost’s past is resurfacing as well. Allegations from his time at Bishop Noll High School in Indiana hint at potential recruitment violations, although he claims to have been cleared of those earlier charges. Meanwhile, a federal court recently issued a preliminary injunction, allowing foreign F-1 visa students to continue participating in varsity sports. This ruling came as a response to a lawsuit that cited illegal discrimination practices related to the new UHSAA rules.

As the school and its supporters navigate through this complicated chapter, the community remains hopeful that the necessary changes will improve the integrity of the admissions process, ensuring fair play for all students involved. With institutional probation in place and fines to be addressed, Juan Diego Catholic High School will surely be under close observation for the foreseeable future.

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