RESTON, Va. — An athletic director from a high school located in northern Virginia is facing serious allegations involving a scheme designed to exploit the issue of homelessness for the purpose of recruiting football players.

According to reports from local news sources, a collection of text messages has surfaced implicating Monty Fritts, the athletic director at Hayfield Secondary School, in a plan to use loopholes in homeless status to attract players to the football team.

Within the messages, Fritts discusses hiring Darryl Overton as the new football coach. During this conversation, he reportedly mentions, “There would need to be some change, but if they are homeless, nothing can happen.”

The content of these texts suggests that the athletic director intended to take advantage of homelessness, a designation meant to safeguard at-risk students, to bolster his football program. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 establishes protections for homeless students, including the right to enroll in a school without delay.

Michelle Reid, the Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, has stated that the concerning messages have been forwarded to both internal and external legal counsel for a thorough review and investigation, a process known to take time.

Additionally, last week, it was announced that Fritts would be stepping away from his position, as he has plans to relocate overseas.

This situation raises significant concerns regarding ethical recruitment practices in high school sports, particularly how administrators navigate the complexities of student welfare and athletics.