Richland Springs High School Accused of Illegally Recruiting Football Player

RICHLAND SPRINGS – A Richland Springs High School football player has been ruled ineligible to play in the 2022 season due to accusations of illegal recruiting by the coaching staff.

The UIL District Executive Committee for District 16-1A ruled that a transfer student from Mullin to Richland Springs is not eligible for the 2022 season due to illegal recruiting by the Richland Springs coaching staff.

In an open meeting at Rochelle ISD near Brady, the DEC referred the decision to the UIL State Executive Committee after the coaching staff at Richland Springs had allegedly illegally recruited the player from Mullin. The State Executive Committee could uphold or overturn the ruling.

The head football coach and athletic director from Mullin, Brent Williamson and the father of the athlete were in attendance as well as the District 16-1A DEC chairman Dave Lewis, who is the superintendent at Rochelle ISD, James Womack, superintendent at Richland Springs, Jack Graves, Brookesmith AD, and Jennifer Bordner, superintendent at Cherokee.

Jerry Burkhart, the head football coach at Richland Springs, has been nothing short of a legendary coach. Burkhart led the Coyotes to 9 state championships and has over 200 wins.