November 4, 2024
FHSAA Sanctions First Academy Orlando Football Program For Rule Violations
By Kyle Coppola
FHSAA Sanctions First Academy Orlando Football Program For Rule Violations
In a dramatic shakeup for Florida high school football, The First Academy (TFA) in Orlando has been hit with severe sanctions by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) following a report detailing significant rules violations within its football program. According to a report obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, TFA must forfeit eight wins from the current season, is banned from competing in the 2024 and 2025 state playoffs, and faces fines totaling $36,000.
(Coach Steven Moffett, who was the head coach at Leesburg High last year, brought Leesburg its best season since 1992. After the season ended, he took most of his coaching staff and multiple Leesburg and Lake County players with him to TFA Orlando.)
The FHSAA’s investigation uncovered violations including improper communication with players not yet enrolled at TFA, offering an Uber ride to school for a player not yet enrolled, unenrolled players competing for the Royals in summer activities, hosting multiple 7-on-7 events with coaches and without a required facility usage agreement for non-school activities, and more, according to The Orlando Sentinel.
These sanctions mean a significant hit to TFA’s program, which had high expectations following Moffett’s transition from Leesburg High School. Known for revitalizing Leesburg’s football team, Moffett took his leadership and much of his team to TFA.
In addition to the forfeiture of wins and the playoff ban, the school must pay $36,000 in fines. For the players this is heartbreaking. It’s hard enough having your season come to an end but having it end like this is not how any player should have to go out. According to an SI article by Jeff Gardenour, TFA will vigorously defend the allegations made by the FHSAA. They will be represented by Orlando attourney Frank Kruppenbacher, who represents TFA.
The FHSAA’s decision comes amid growing scrutiny of recruitment and transfer practices in Florida high school athletics, as schools work to comply with increasingly strict guidelines. TFA has the right to appeal the FHSAA ruling, but must do so to special committees within 10 business days.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
