Santaluces football head coach Hector Clavijo has been suspended from coaching for one season by the Florida High School Athletic Association as a result of Name, Image and Likeness rules violations.
In an email sent to faculty on Sunday morning, May 10 by Santaluces Principal Dr. Tameka Robinson, the FHSAA’s sanctions were described as follows:
An investigation by the Office of Inspector General and Palm Beach County School District’s HR Department found Clavijo violated a number of state and local policies by acting as an unlicensed athletic agent, including negotiating an NIL deal for a student-athlete and receiving payment in the amount of $5,000.
Clavijo initially received a written reprimand for his actions, and the school did not self-report any violations to the FHSAA, who determined that harsher penalties were warranted.
Assistant coach Samuel Putmon has been named the interim coach for the team during the spring season and will act as head coach for the team’s spring jamboree on May 14.
“This transition follows a FHSAA investigation regarding Coach Hector Clavijo and violations of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) protocols,” the email to faculty reads. “Consequently, the FHSAA has issued a one-year coaching suspension and financial penalty to Coach Hector and placed the Santaluces High athletic program on administrative probation through April 2027.”
It is unclear from the email whether the football program alone or all Santaluces sports programs are being placed on administrative probation. The Post has reached out to the FHSAA to verify.
Administrative probation constitutes a strict monitoring period where further violations can lead to more severe penalties, including post-season bans, fines, or suspension.
Given the recency of NIL in the world of Florida high school athletics and the subsequent policies surrounding it, the steep penalties against both Clavijo and Santaluces act as a noteworthy precedent.
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Santaluces football coach suspended by FHSAA for NIL deal
Reporting by Alexander Peterman, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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