1 week Ago
The Ashley Ridge High School Football program will be allowed to participate in the 2025 playoffs, but its head coach will not be able to participate at all for a year. According to a Dorchester School District Two press release issued April 9, the high school was sanctioned due to a “recruiting violation” committed by the program. The district conducted a review into the details that led to sanctions and made an appeal to the South Carolina High School League asking for sanction relief.
The league and its high school members typically hold the head coaches of programs responsible for everything that happens within their programs and after the appeal Ashley Ridge head football coach Jeff Tate shoulders the brunt of the sanctions. “The District conducted a thorough internal review to address the matter responsibly and in a manner that prioritizes student-athlete opportunity and program integrity,” the press release states. “As a result of this review, Coach Jeffery Tate will not serve on the coaching staff of any Dorchester School District Two school for the 2025-2026 school year.
This decision was instrumental in the SCHSL’s ruling to lift the postseason ban for the Ashley Ridge football team. We believe this outcome reflects a balanced and fair approach¬ – holding adults accountable while preserving the hard-earned opportunities of our student-athletes.” In a modified decision regarding the sanctions, the league’s Executive Committee agreed to accept the self-imposed sanctions provided by the school and to not put the football program on probation.
If the team had been put on probation then the Swamp Foxes would not have been eligible for the 2025 football playoffs. However, a $1,000 fine remains in place and the school’s athletic director must attend training provided by the league office. Ashley Haskins, who for the past two seasons served as the program’s assistant head coach and worked with offensive linemen, has been named the interim head coach for the Swamp Foxes.
He has 39 years of coaching experience including 14 years as a head coach. He also served as an athletic director for eight years..
