MIDVALE — Junior Austin Clark won't be penalized for transferring from North Sevier to South Sevier, but his new coach will.
Scott Hunt was penalized for undue influence after the hearing panel representing the Utah High School Activities Association ruled that Clark could play for Hunt's team this season.
"Austin Clark was approved because he and his family moved," said UHSAA attorney Mark Van Wagoner of the 2A all-state player who moved from Salina (North Sevier High) to Monroe (South Sevier High). "The coach was found to be in violation of the undue influence (bylaw) and he will be fined $500, receive a letter of reprimand and sit out the first five games of the season."
The hearing panel found him to be guilty of undue influence because Clark played for his team during offseason tournaments and workouts.
Hunt was shocked that he was punished, as he said he didn't even know the UHSAA panel would consider undue influence in addition to transfer issues.
"I thought it was a transfer hearing," said Hunt. "It was quite surprising to me. I think it was the right decision to let Austin play, but I was simply following the advice of (the UHSAA). I'm disappointed with the outcome."
UHSAA executive director Rob Cuff said once it was established that Clark had indeed moved with his mother to Monroe, the issue then became whether there was undue influence involved in the transfer.
"That was pretty much the whole crux," Cuff said.
Hunt defended his decision to let Clark play because he said he called UHSAA assistant director Kevin Dustin in May and asked him if Clark needed to enroll for the final three weeks of school in order to participate in summer workouts and tournaments. Clark's mother had rented a house and told officials they'd moved the first week of May. The family did not, however, rent their home in Salina until September 1, which is what made it a full-family move.
Dustin said during the hearing that he told Hunt that "on the face of it, no there is nothing wrong with it." He said he gets calls about this issue on occasion and his "standard" reply is that while any teen can play where they want in the offseason there may be issues if there is a subsequent transfer.
Dustin said after the hearing that he felt Hunt was trying to "do due diligence" in making the call to him in May.
Hunt said he will likely appeal the punishment, which Cuff said is the coach's option.
The transfer means Clark is eligible to run cross country for the Rams immediately, as well as play for the basketball team, which will likely be one of the best in the state — even without the addition of the 6-foot-4 Clark, who was an all-state player last year.
There were two other hearings involving four high school athletes. Three were denied eligibility and one was granted eligibility.
One hearing involved three boys transferring from West to East and all three are football players.
Malakai Solovi, a sophomore, was granted eligibility because his father coaches at East High. He attends a charter school housed in East's building. His father, Junior Solovi, who is an assistant coach for the Leopards, was hired in June and shortly after that he submitted a hardship waiver application that was accepted.
Junior Solovi has power of attorney for two other boys who attempted to transfer with him — Tualagi Laupata and Pita Lafo (PJ) Nuusa — but because he doesn't have legal guardianship, which is the standard UHSAA requires, the boys were denied.
Van Wagoner said the panel would accept a new application from the two boys that more accurately reflects their relationship to Solovi, who refers to himself as their father.
The family's bishop, as well as family members, said that Solovi has acted as their father and he has legal authority as far as the school district is concerned. Letters from the district also refer to him as the father of Nuusa and Laupata.
Solovi said he didn't take full guardianship out of respect for the boys' biological families, who support Solovi raising the boys.
Sophomore Chase Radcliffe was denied eligibility in regards to his transfer from East to Judge. Part of the denial was that he played in East's first game and then transferred to Judge after that.
His mother said he did that because they didn't make the decision to transfer until the day before that first game and she felt he should honor his commitment to the Leopards.
Radcliffe said he transferred because he was "floundering" at East due to his parent's divorce and hostility in the school, which he said was caused by gangs and a lack of friends.
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