Football: Southern Section asks Crespi to investigate complaint

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The Southern Section has forwarded to Encino Crespi Athletic Director Matt Luderer a complaint from a parent alleging that football Coach Jon Mack has been in contact with eighth-grade football players at youth games, including a photo of Mack speaking with a family at a youth game last week.

Luderer said he received the information from the Southern Section and that Mack indicated, ‘He was walking out and people came up and said hello,’ according to Luderer in explaining the photo.

The Southern Section asked Luderer to investigate.

‘I will attend as many youth games as I humanly can,’ Mack said. ‘There’s nothing in the rules that says I can’t do that. I don’t initiate conversations. I never go and talk to a player about coming to Crespi. Maybe because of my bald head they know me and they come up and say, ‘Hi.’ If they ever express any interest, I say, ‘Call the admission office.’ ‘

Increasing numbers of high school coaches have been showing up to youth games wearing their school clothing, which is legal by Southern Section rules. But coaches are not allowed to recruit players.

-- Eric Sondheimer