The FHSAA, which governs sports for the great majority of Florida high schools, said it learned during TFA’s appeals process that Conaway “was aware that student-athletes were not fully enrolled at First Academy but allowed the students to participate anyway.”Conaway held TFA’s A.D. position along with being its head football coach until the school announced […]
The FHSAA, which governs sports for the great majority of Florida high schools, said it learned during TFA’s appeals process that Conaway “was aware that student-athletes were not fully enrolled at First Academy but allowed the students to participate anyway.”Conaway held TFA’s A.D. position along with being its head football coach until the school announced on Nov. 21 — after the FHSAA sanctions were levied — that he would transition out of the A.D. role and “focus all his attention on coaching football”.“In accordance with Policy 37.3.4.1, Jeff Conaway shall forfeit ,000 of his salary.TFA coaching changes continue as FHSAA eyes rules allegationsWednesday’s letter to the school stated that at least 10 new players participated in TFA activities during the school year and over the summer before they were enrolled.The news came one day after TFA announced that Andy Chiles, a former FHSAA board of directors president and veteran athletic director, will be leaving Winter Park High School to become A.D. for the Royals in June.In accordance with Policy 37.3.5, Jeff Conaway will be ineligible to coach or attend a football interscholastic contest, at any level through December 13, 2025.”The FHSAA began its investigation after the Sentinel reported last April that former TFA baseball coach Scott Grove said he left the job because the school was violating rules. Following that story, a number of Orlando area football coaches said the Royals were recruiting players from other teams.The Florida High School Athletic Association notified The First Academy on Wednesday that its embattled football coach, Jeff Conaway, is banned from coaching until the end of the 2025 season.Last November the FHSAA placed TFA’s football program on restrictive probation for a litany of rules violations as the team added more than 30 transfer players under Conaway’s watch. The Royals were forced to forfeit all victories in their 9-1 season and were banned from playoff participation for 2024 and 2025. The Orlando private school was also fined ,000, a count that has since been modified.Originally Published: These are the punishments listed in the FHSAA report, requested and obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.
Conaway moved from Arkansas to become TFA’s highly-paid head coach prior to the 2023 season. The Royals went 6-4 that year and, with the influx of new assistant coaches and transfers, rocketed to the No. 1 ranking in Class 1A. TFA defeated big-school powers Edgewater and Sanford Seminole and lost only to Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, a Georgia boarding school that plays outside of Georgia’s high school system.
FHSAA by-laws allow TFA to appeal the ruling within 10 business days of the notification to the association’s infraction committee or a sectional appeals committee.Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandoSentinel.com.
