A month after celebrating unprecedented success on the basketball court, Stepinac was informed last week of potential Catholic High Schools Athletic Association sanctions that include a lengthy suspension for head coach Pat Massaroni and travel restrictions.
The Crusaders, who last season became the first program in league history to win four straight CHSAA AA “City” Championships, could also be facing a 2027 postseason ban.
Stepinac’s participation in last month’s Chipotle Nationals, a high-profile event outside Indianapolis that includes some of the country’s top programs, is the issue. The Crusaders fell to SPIRE Academy in the first round.
A letter from the CHSAA Archdiocese of New York executive committee to member schools dated April 21 cites multiple violations of league rules and states the Chipotle Nationals tournament is not a sanctioned NFHS event.
CHSAA teams are prohibited from competing in non-sanctioned events.
According to the letter, signed by Kevin J. Pigott, president of the Boys’ CHSAA Archdiocese of New York, Stepinac violated Article VI of the league’s constitution:
“No member school of the Association will be permitted to participate in a post-schedule tournament or game unless secondary school authorities in accordance with CHSAA standards conduct the contest. In all cases, permission to compete must be secured by the league president.”
The letter states permission to compete in the event was not granted by the CHSAA.
He further explained the school committed to an event that was scheduled during Holy Week. A first-round win by the Crusaders would’ve had them playing on Good Friday, in violation of a policy set forth in 2015 by Cardinal Timothy Dolan that prohibits athletic competition or practice during the Paschal Triduum.
An extended run at the Chipotle Nationals would have landed the school outside the CHSAA’s 22-week season mandate.
Stepinac was aware of the issues and on March 27 the school’s principal, Paul Carty, informed the Archdiocesan executive committee in writing of the Crusaders’ intention to detach from the school and participate.
It’s common practice for teams entering these national championships. Participants essentially declare themselves club teams and refrain from using school names on uniforms or in social media posts.
Christ the King, a CHSAA member school in Queens, has in past seasons participated in The Throne National Championship after detaching. Stepinac also took part in the 2025 Border League, playing three preseason games in Las Vegas as the New York Crusaders without penalty.
Pigott declined to comment on the alleged rules violations and potential sanctions.
Massaroni explained in March his team’s participation in the Chipotle Nationals was contingent upon winning the Mayor’s Cup against PSAL champion Eagle Academy-Bronx. The letter says the school accepted the invitation before that March 22 game at LIU Brooklyn tipped off, and since Eagle Academy did not have an invitation to play on if it had upset the Crusaders, the Chipotle Nationals event was not considered an extension of the season.
Carty did not return a message seeking comment.
The sanctions recommended by the executive committee include a two-year period of probation for all Archbishop Stepinac athletic programs. Any violation could result in a one-year league suspension for the program and its coach. Next is an eight-game suspension of Massaroni for league contests. The Crusaders would also be prohibited from playing varsity games or scrimmages outside the state of New York next season and all Stepinac basketball teams (Varsity B, JV and freshmen) would be banned from the 2027 CHSAA playoffs.
Massaroni has been instructed not to comment on the situation.
It’s unclear what the next step is. The recommendations have to be approved by the league’s Chief Administrators’ Council. That group is chaired by Sacred Heart principal Kyle O’Donnell, who did not return phone calls seeking clarification on a timetable.
Both sides have consulted with lawyers.
Massaroni was recently offered the head coaching job at IMG Academy, which is a boarding school in Bradenton, Florida, where athletic development is emphasized. He declined and on Friday received a standing ovation during the annual Stepinac gala at Westchester Country Club when the school announced he would be returning.
“They were first-class with the offer, with the process,” said Massaroni, who guided the Crusaders to a 26-5 season and the No. 16 ranking in the final ESPN boys high school basketball top 25. “I cannot say anything bad about how well that place is run. It’s like a college job in a high school landscape.”
Massaroni decided he wasn’t ready to leave the program or his extended family to climb the ladder. He’s brought significant alumni support into the school over the years, so an improved financial arrangement was likely part of the conversation. Massaroni declined to say whether he got a raise.
“A number of things factored into my decision,” he said. “Obviously, IMG is a prestigious job but after losing my dad a year and a half ago, the family dynamic we have in this area was part of it. Plus, we talk all the time about family values and culture, so I felt I would be going against what we preach every single day to our students and their families.”
The Crusaders will graduate nine seniors next month, including three McDonald’s All-Americans.
Jasiah Jervis (Michigan State), Adonis Ratliff (USC), Darius Ratliff (USC), Hassan Koureissi (Fordham) and Dylan Perry (Monmouth) are heading to Division I programs.
After he passed on the IMG offer, Massaroni said his top returning player, Josh Rivera, confirmed he would return to Stepinac for his senior year.
Mike Dougherty covers high school basketball for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Stepinac basketball facing potential CHSAA sanctions over final game
Reporting by Mike Dougherty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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