If you follow New Brunswick high school basketball, you know Fredericton High School had a strong season. But off the court, the school and its senior boys basketball coach faced a major penalty. School Sport New Brunswick suspended coach Michael King and fined the school after discovering a newly transferred player lived at King’s home.

According to documents obtained by CBC News, the provincial sports regulator launched an investigation last fall. The probe focused on whether the team recruited a player from outside the province.

Image source: unbmensbb / Instagram via CBC News

The Investigation and Sanctions

School Sport New Brunswick initially suspended King for two full seasons and banned the student from provincial playoffs. The organization also fined Fredericton High School one thousand dollars.

School principal Peter Batt appealed the decision. The appeal board dropped the sanctions against the student and reduced King’s suspension to 15 games. The school still had to pay the fine. Anglophone West School District spokesperson Paul MacIntosh confirmed the district placed the coaching staff and administration on probation for the next two seasons.

Rodney Buggie serves as president of the School Sport New Brunswick executive committee. When he first received the complaint, he called it a clear violation.

“This sounds like a slam dunk recruitment violation to me,” Buggie said in an email. He added that the regulations exist to provide fair and equitable opportunities for all athletes.

A Favour for a Friend

King defended his actions in sworn affidavits. He said a longtime friend and former university teammate asked for a favour. The friend planned to move his family to Fredericton and wanted his son to start the school year early. The student stayed at King’s home for 37 days.

King claims he did not recruit the player. He also stated that Fredericton High School vice principal of athletics Fred Connors explicitly approved the living arrangement. King said Connors also approved using an assistant coach’s address to enroll the student.

“My actions were at all times authorized by FHS administration as Fred Connors expressly authorized the living arrangement,” King said in a written statement.

The Rules of the Game

Provincial guidelines strictly prohibit students from playing for a school they do not attend. The rules also condemn recruitment to prevent the overemphasis of athletics and to give average students a fair chance to play. The handbook specifically states a coach cannot invite a transfer student to live with them.

School Sport Canada president Shamus Bourdon supports these strict rules.

“School sport as a philosophy is more about participation, and it is about the values of life lessons from participating in school sport,” Bourdon said. He noted that recruitment often bumps less talented athletes off the roster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did School Sport New Brunswick suspend the coach?

The organization suspended the coach because a newly transferred student player lived at his home. This living arrangement violates provincial rules against player recruitment.

What penalties did Fredericton High School face?

The school paid a one thousand dollar fine. The district also placed the coaching staff and administration on probation for two seasons.

Did the student face any penalties?

The organization initially suspended the student from playing in the provincial playoffs. The school appealed the decision and the board lifted the suspension against the student.

How did the coach respond to the allegations?

The coach denied recruiting the player. He stated he was providing temporary housing for a friend and claimed school administrators approved the arrangement.