Bolding asks for new look into case

Letter: District’s side only 1 heard

 North Little Rock head football coach Brad Bolding is shown in this file photo.
North Little Rock head football coach Brad Bolding is shown in this file photo.

Arkansas' high school-sports governing body should conduct its own investigation into whether star wide receiver K.J. Hill was ineligible to play for North Little Rock High School during the 2013-14 academic year because of a recruiting violation, a lawyer for the school's embattled head football coach said Wednesday.

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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Kelly Rodgers, superintendent North Little Rock School District.

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Democrat-Gazette file photo

Arkansas Activities Association Executive Director Lance Taylor.

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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Montez Peterson (left), and his stepson, K.J. Hill (right), pose for photos Wednesday following a signing day ceremony at North Little Rock High School.

In a letter sent on behalf of coach Brad Bolding, attorney David Couch also asked the Arkansas Activities Association to withdraw its recognition of a "self-reported" rules violation made by the North Little Rock School District that resulted in the forfeiture of more than 30 games, including a boys' basketball state championship.

"I have reviewed the AAA bylaws with regard to reporting violations. I see no provision whereby schools can self-report and self-impose penalties," Couch wrote.

Couch said he believes AAA bylaws require that even when a school files a complaint against itself, the association's executive director must conduct an independent investigation and "make findings and recommendations."

"It does not appear as if this process was followed," Couch said. "No investigation was conducted. There are no findings and recommendations. It appears as if the AAA simply accepted the conclusion by the North Little Rock personnel that the player was ineligible."

Couch's letter was faxed to the AAA's office in North Little Rock. Calls to the office were answered with a recorded message saying the office was closed Wednesday.

Multiple attempts to reach AAA Executive Director Lance Taylor on his cellphone were unsuccessful.

According to AAA bylaws, the association allows its executive director to request "assistance or investigation by the alleged violators" listed in any complaint filed with the association.

On Wednesday, Superintendent Kelly Rodgers said he couldn't comment on Bolding's letter to the AAA because the district considers it part of a "personnel matter." But Rodgers said the AAA worked with the district for at least two weeks to investigate the rules violation it reported.

"Everything that we submitted was thoroughly investigated by both the North Little Rock School District and the AAA," Rodgers said.

Couch's letter to the AAA comes as Bolding is scheduled to appear at 5:30 p.m. next Thursday before the North Little Rock School Board to appeal the district's decision to fire him.

The AAA rules violation related to Hill was among four reasons the district cited in Bolding's Jan. 30 termination notice.

The district accused Bolding of violating the association's rules regarding contact he had with Hill's stepfather, Montez Peterson. Bolding was accused of giving Peterson a $600 check from the NLR Athletic Foundation -- a nonprofit booster club separate from the school district -- in February 2013, about a month before Hill enrolled in the North Little Rock district as a sophomore.

Over the next two football seasons, Hill was a standout wide receiver who drew the attention of major college football programs during his junior and senior years at North Little Rock. Hill also was part of the boys basketball team that won the 2013-2014 Class 7A state championship.

In August, Hill orally committed to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville but later decommitted. On Feb. 4, Hill signed a national letter of intent to play football at Ohio State University.

A day later, the district forfeited more than 30 games in football and boys basketball and the state basketball title. The district cited the $600 check given to Peterson, saying it was a violation of recruiting rules that led to an ineligible player participating in the games.

Taylor has said the AAA agreed with the school district "that a violation occurred." In a Feb. 10 letter to North Little Rock Athletic Director Gary Davis, Taylor wrote that the AAA "acknowledges" the district's forfeits.

Taylor also placed the North Little Rock High School football and boys basketball programs on a 365-day "warning" period.

"Any further violation during this period may result in a more severe penalty," Taylor wrote.

Bolding has challenged the evidence submitted by the school district to support the forfeits, particularly two letters from Peterson that gave differing accounts of the $600 check dated Feb. 7, 2013.

One letter said that Bolding gave Peterson the check to reimburse him for expenses incurred traveling to the U.S. Army All-American Combine Camp. But Hill didn't attend that camp until a year later.

The other letter from Peterson said he received the check from Billy Starks, president of the NLR Athletic Foundation, which raised more than $112,000 in 2013 and spent about $93,000 to support the North Little Rock football program.

In an interviews with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Starks has backed up Peterson's second account, saying he gave Peterson the check to pay for supplies for a football cookout and other equipment. At the time, Peterson was volunteering to help the football program by running errands and supervising players during off-season workouts.

Bolding also denies giving Peterson the check and said that he never recruited Hill. Bolding said he believes the district forfeited the games to bolster its decision to fire him.

Couch argues in Wednesday's letter that the AAA didn't conduct its own investigation and instead took the district at its word.

Bolding has said that neither he nor his coaches were interviewed by AAA staff members nor given an opportunity to dispute the district's allegations.

"Coach Bolding believes that the player in question was eligible. Substantial evidence exists that if considered would show that the player was in fact eligible. ... If the player is eligible, then no sanctions are warranted," Couch wrote.

In the letter, Couch asked that the AAA withdraw the forfeits pending an investigation. Failing that, he asked that Bolding be allowed to appeal the AAA's decision.

Attorney John W. Walker of Little Rock, who represents Peterson, said he agrees with Bolding's appeal of his firing and Couch's request for the AAA investigation.

"There's no basis from what I can see," said Walker, who is also a Democratic state representative. "It was done in haste by the district. It put his family in a bad light and cast blame upon them and upon that family."

In addition to the rules violation, the district's termination letter cited Bolding for failing to follow district purchasing and inventory procedures regarding athletic equipment, failing to comply with the district's policy for disposal of personal property and unprofessional conduct regarding a Facebook posting in November.

Bolding, who has coached at North Little Rock since 2007, has denied any wrongdoing. He is 64-30 in eight seasons and led the Charging Wildcats to the semifinals of the Class 7A state football playoffs last season, losing to eventual state champion Bentonville.

Bolding, whose annual salary is $79,393.13, teaches physical education at North Little Rock High School-West Campus in addition to coaching football. He's been on paid leave since mid-January.

A Section on 02/19/2015

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