News Summary
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has issued a cease and desist letter to a sports program affiliated with Bishop Montgomery High School. This action follows multiple eligibility violations leading to the cancellation of the school’s varsity football season. The Archdiocese’s concerns stem from significant infractions, including improper payments to families and a troubling pattern of player transfers. As the investigation unfolds, the integrity of the school’s athletic program is called into question, prompting additional measures from the CIF regarding player eligibility.
Los Angeles – The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has issued a cease and desist letter to Brett Steigh, known within the sports community as the ‘Money Man.’ This legal action orders Steigh to halt all activities concerning sports programs within Archdiocesan Catholic schools, following a series of serious infractions related to Bishop Montgomery High School’s football program.
The letter specifically addresses Steigh’s involvement in paying families to participate in the athletic program at Bishop Montgomery, which culminated in the cancellation of the school’s varsity football season for 2025. This cancellation was a result of multiple eligibility violations and scrutiny from the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIF-SS).
In response to the cease and desist order, Steigh claimed during a recent interview on the YouTube show FATTAL FACTOR that he had never been told to cease his activities and expressed willingness to comply with all regulations if so directed. He asserted that contingent upon any directive from the Archdiocese, he would follow the rules. However, the Archdiocese has received numerous concerns regarding Steigh’s involvement and was prompted to act firmly.
Patrick Lee, the president of Bishop Montgomery High School, resigned amid the scandal that has garnered significant media attention. His resignation followed controversies regarding ineligible players and an on-field brawl during a game in Hawaii, which raised serious questions about the football program’s conduct and integrity. Shortly after these incidents, the CIF ruled five players ineligible, citing violations of athletic eligibility rules.
The investigation discovered a troubling pattern of a sudden influx of 24 football transfers to Bishop Montgomery, raising red flags and leading to queries about the legitimacy of these transfers. The CIF declared that 19 players would be ineligible for two years due to breaches of Bylaw 202, which involves falsifying information, significantly impacting the school’s athletic program.
Furthermore, the cease and desist letter from the Archdiocese cited Bylaw 510, which details policies governing high school sports activities, explicitly stating that the Archdiocese does not endorse any infractions of these bylaw regulations. Following these breaches, the school was compelled to forfeit its football season, resulting also in the dismissal of head coach Ed Hodgkiss.
While Bishop Montgomery has canceled its varsity football program, the school will continue to offer junior varsity football. This decision could complicate matters for student-athletes wishing to transfer, as opportunities for proper playing exposure may now be limited. Parents of ineligible players do retain the right to appeal the CIF’s decision, barring any violations of specific CIF bylaws on their part.
Incidents that have marred the season include an altercation during a game against Saint Louis in Hawaii, which not only resulted in a brawl but has also led to additional suspensions and forfeitures. The Archdiocese’s directive underscores a commitment to uphold ethical standards and adherence to CIF regulations across its high school sports programs.
The ramifications of these incidents may lead to further legal challenges in the future, as families may pursue claims regarding player eligibility and transfer rights based on the recent facts. Given the widespread implications of such violations, the Archdiocese hopes to establish a firm stance on integrity in high school athletics, reaffirming its commitment to proper conduct and governance across its schools.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Times
- Wikipedia: Bishop Montgomery High School
- NBC Los Angeles
- Google Search: Bishop Montgomery football scandal
- Sports Illustrated
- Google Scholar: athletic eligibility rules
- Daily Breeze
- Encyclopedia Britannica: High School Athletics
- Arizona Central
- Google News: Bishop Montgomery football scandal
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