Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

high school sports:

Gorman’s plan to be more transparent presented to NIAA board

The private school would notify NIAA if an athlete receives more than 50-percent tuition assistance

bishop gorman campus tower

Steve Marcus

The “G” tower at the $115 million campus of Bishop Gorman High School, which opened in 2007 on Hualapai Way near Russell Road.

Bishop Gorman High School President John Kilduff told the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association’s Board of Control that officials at the private school are willing to inform the association when an athlete receives more than 50 percent tuition assistance.

During a presentation to the board Tuesday at the Orleans, Kilduff mapped out six changes to the Gorman athletic policy in an attempt to adhere to Clark County School District administrations and NIAA officials requesting more transparency from the athletic powerhouse. Kilduff also asked the public schools for accommodations to guarantee Gorman’s lower-level programs and non-major sports received games to fill out their schedules.

Kilduff spoke during the meeting’s private/public school debate — which, since the spring when the NIAA suggested forming a separate private school league because of Gorman’s dominance, has essentially been the Gorman debate. Tuesday’s item was purely for discussion.

Kilduff told the group Gorman wants to be treated like other members of the association. “It is our desire to resolve the problems and perceptions out there,” he said.

Private schools such as Gorman aren’t required to make their financial records available to the public, creating several questions and accusations from their foes in the public school ranks about how certain athletes are attracted to the schools. And, more important, how their tuition is paid.

The most significant proposed change seemed to be notifying the NIAA of when an athlete receives more than 50 percent financial aid in paying his tuition and agreeing to cooperate with any NIAA inquiry about a student’s assistance. Kilduff said 350 incoming freshman for the upcoming school year were granted some form of help (450 applied) and the committee awarding the assistance has no idea if the student is an athlete.

Other changes include:

• Gorman coaches would sign a contract agreeing to follow all NIAA rules, highlighted by the recruiting regulations. The punishment for recruiting could result in termination.

• Parents would also sign a contract agreeing to follow NIAA regulations in regards to recruiting and tuition assistance, agreeing to punishment ranging from being ineligible to expulsion. The committee hearing all possible ineligibility issues won’t include anyone from the athletic department.

• Any student transferring to Gorman must complete a notarized questionnaire to assure he had no illegal contact with a Gorman coach, wasn’t recruited and received no improper aid.

• Gorman will alter its Tuition Assistance Agreement to include: “Accordingly, I agree to fully cooperate with the school and the NIAA in any investigation that may be brought regarding my son’s/daughter’s eligibility, including providing a brief affidavit which identifies the source of funds used to pay the tuition of my son/daughter.”

• Gorman will assist the NIAA in conducting an investigation authorized by an NIAA Executive Committee upon suspicion of a rules violation.

The policy changes, which included several new concessions, will be brought before School District principals for discussion at their annual August meeting.

“This is encouraging,” said Carolyn Edwards, a member of the NIAA and Clark County School Board. “I look forward to discussion with the principals.”

In return, Gorman is asking for a commitment from officials at district schools to guarantee it’s able to fill its schedule. This year, the freshman football team won’t play until the fifth week of the season, and in year’s past non-league games have been difficult to find locally as several public school administrations agreed not to schedule Gorman.

“That’s one of the reasons why we have to reach out with major sports to play games out of Las Vegas,” Kilduff said.

The proposal requests the NIAA and School District administrators not allow teams scheduled to play Gorman to forfeit, and also asks that officials encourage schools to schedule games against Gorman. Additionally, Gorman requests a private-public school meeting three times annually, to be held after each season.

While Gorman is at the center of the debate, it’s not the lone private school with a vested interest. Faith Lutheran operates under some of the same philosophy as Gorman.

“Some of the concerns always seem to be more about what goes on outside the control of the school, meaning between possible parents paying tuition for another student,” said Bret Walter, Faith Lutheran’s athletic director, basketball coach and an NIAA board member. “I firmly believe that private schools are controlling everything they can at the school.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy