JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Nease defensive coordinator Robert Garth’s six-game suspension for contacting a student-athlete who didn’t attend the school has been cut in half by the Florida High School Athletic Association.
In the amended report obtained by News4JAX, the three-game suspension covered contests against Fletcher, Buchholz and St. Augustine, games Garth was held out of coaching. A potential return is now up to the St. Johns County School District. Nease travels to Bartram Trail in Week 8 for a key district game.
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Garth was initially suspended for six weeks for a violation of FHSAA Policy 36.3.2.1 for having contact on social media with a student-athlete who was not attending Nease. That policy covers any electronic communication sent to a student or family member “attempt to pressure, urge or entice the student to attend a different school to participate in interscholastic athletics.”
In the amended ruling from the FHSAA, the association shifted the violation under Policy 36 to Policy 37.2.1, a massive change in terms of sanctions. The original fine for Nease was reduced from $2,500 to $250. Garth was assessed a $5,000 fine, but since he’s a volunteer coach and not a school district employee that was not applicable to his case.
A report sent from the FHSAA to Nease on Sept. 25 said that the association received an allegation of improper contact involving Garth and a student-athlete who was then attending Sandalwood. The student transferred schools but didn’t go to Nease.
An initial statement provided from the player’s mother to the FHSAA said that there was no connection between her son and Garth, who “has never trained with the coach or spoken to him about college recruiting,” and didn’t know why he would be reaching out to her son.
In a follow-up letter sent to the FHSAA on Wednesday night and obtained by News4JAX on Thursday, the mother said she wasn’t aware of a previous relationship between her son’s father and Garth. She confirmed that in a phone conversation with News4JAX on Thursday afternoon, saying it was essentially lack of communication between the parents that led to the initial allegation against Garth.
In an email to News4JAX that was sent to the FHSAA, the player’s father said that he approached Garth last February after a college coach followed his son on social media platform, X, and wanted his guidance on how to proceed.
“I specifically told Coach Garth that he had my full permission to contact [his son] to assist with exposure and communication related to college recruiting,” the father wrote.
“Coach Garth did exactly that. His contact with my son was professional, brief, and focused solely on verifying information for a college coach. There was no discussion about transferring schools or attending Nease, and no attempt to recruit my son.”
Nease said that it would appeal the suspension and punishment, which is scheduled for Oct. 16.
Garth was a star in arena league football and later segued into coaching at the high school level and then in college. Two of his more prominent stops came at Arkansas State and New Mexico State.