TSSAA: McGugin gave MBA player's family $1,500

MAURICE PATTON, THE TENNESSEAN

Montgomery Bell Academy football Coach Daniel McGugin gave a $1,500 cashier’s check to the father of a football player in September 2008, according to the TSSAA.

The gift, which could be interpreted as a violation of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s recruiting rule, has resulted in MBA’s administration asking last week for McGugin’s resignation.

According to a letter from the state association to MBA Headmaster Brad Gioia, dated Monday, the father of the player disclosed that the school’s administration “had absolutely no knowledge of the 2008 financial gift” until it was mentioned in a meeting earlier this month.

The letter states that “based on the facts that this violation occurred three years ago, that it was promptly self-reported by MBA as soon as you learned of it, and that MBA has taken decisive action to address the matter, we have determined that no further investigation or action by TSSAA is warranted at this time.”

Gioia declined to comment today through an MBA staff member.

TSSAA letter to MBA

Dear Mr. Gioia:

This is a follow-up to your letter and series of conversations we have had regarding a payment to the family of an MBA student-athlete. Based on the letter submitted to the state office and interviews with you and the father of the student-athlete, the facts as we understand them are as follows:

1. During the 2008-09 school year, the student-athlete was a ninth grader at MBA and participated in interscholastic football.

2. The student qualified and received a minimal amount of need-based financial aid. The student’s father verified that the family paid the tuition remaining without any other monetary help from anyone associated with MBA.

3. During the course of that school year, the parents of the student inquired of football coach Daniel McGugin as to what other types of financial assistance might be available. The student’s father indicated during our interview that he was led to believe his son could work and help pay his own tuition. He was never promised anything and a job never materialized.

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