A Weber High School administrator is on leave after she reportedly mishandled an investigation into the school’s football program.
Over the summer, the Weber School District received a complaint that one or more football players were inappropriately recruited from the Davis School District by assistant coaches at Weber, according to a news release from Weber District.
Weber High Principal Chris Earnest was originally tasked with investigating the allegations against the school’s coaches. However, the district received complaints over Earnest’s handling of the investigation, and Weber district officials launched a follow-up investigation.
Earnest was then placed on paid administrative leave — per the district’s standard procedure — on Aug. 16, as the district investigated, Weber School District officials said in the release.
Other allegations of unprofessional conduct and potential violations of district policies were brought to light during the district’s investigation, according to the release.
Weber School District determined one of the high school’s coaches exercised “undue influence” to recruit the players, the district said in the release. The case was then referred to the Utah High School Activities Association’s Region 1 board of managers.
The board then issued sanctions against the program, but the district said it could not specify what sanctions were implemented.
The association also investigated the eligibility of the players who were improperly recruited, according to the release, but the district said it could not release more information about those proceedings.
Weber School District’s investigation into Earnest’s handling of the recruiting review — and into the new allegations that have come to light — remains ongoing, a district spokesperson said.
Weber High, located in Pleasant View, has gone 0-3 to start the season after finishing 3-9 in 2022-23, according to MaxPreps. The season prior, the Warriors were undefeated in 6A Region 1 play and finished 10-3 overall.
