Grundy County High School head football coach Tracy Hayworth encourages his Yellow Jackets.The TSSAA has notified Grundy County High School that its football program has been found guilty of recruiting violations. The punishment includes head coach Tracy Hayworth and assistant Nick Meeks each being suspended for two games this season and the program being placed on two years probation.
In a letter sent to the school, TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress stated that the state’s high school sports governing body would, however, waive the $1,000 fine that normally would accompany the violations because the school self-reported the infractions.
The punishment comes after it was determined that on July 20, two student-athletes from Sequatchie County High had been allowed into the Grundy County locker room while coaches were present. Those players entered the facility accompanied by Grundy County players and posed for pictures and videos while wearing Grundy County jerseys. The same two visitors then were allowed to ride a team bus to a meet-and-greet with former University of Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs at Tullahoma High School.
Coach Hayworth, who is entering his second season with the Yellow Jackets, will be suspended for home games against South Pittsburg (Aug. 30) and York Institute (Sept. 6) – Grundy’s first two games of the season – and will not be allowed on campus during those games. Violation of the suspension will result in immediate dismissal from the program, according to the recommendation by Grundy County administrators.
Meeks will be suspended for the next two games: at home against Bledsoe County (Sept. 13) and at DeKalb County (Sept. 20). He will not be allowed on campus during that time.