Skaneateles (WSYR-TV) - Former NFL and SU football player Tim Green is now a former high school football coach.
Tuesday night, the Skaneateles School Board officially accepted his resignation amid allegations that a current and former coach of the Skaneateles football team tried to illegally recruit players from other schools.
The scandal took quite the toll on the district, which is looking to move on.
Skaneateles Superintendent Philip D'Angelo said, “We'd like to start the healing process, we'd like to start moving forward. We're extremely proud of what our football team accomplished this year."
Parents and players say former head coach Tim Green was a big reason for that success and still stand by him.
Christina Gray, a parent, said, "He's honest. He's upstanding. And people that don't know him are the ones that throw stones."
The irony is the initial recruiting investigation was spearheaded by the district. Its findings were passed on to Section III, which eventually suspended the team a week before the Class C championship. No coaches were named in the report.
An appeal by the district was denied, ending their undefeated season and chance at the title.
Utica-Notre Dame, the team Skaneateles beat in the semifinal, was invited to take the Lakers place.
D'Angelo said, “You know, timing probably wasn't the best. But when it was done we thought it was timely to submit it and unfortunately it was during the playoff time which you know, it was what it was.”
Just prior to the district's appeal, Green resigned. But it wasn't enough to save the team's season.
Skaneateles player Ryan Sherman said, “I mean, he did it for the good of us. He did it so we could play on. I mean for that to go for nothing, we didn't get to play on, kind of hurt. But, I mean he put a lot and nobody will ever forget what he did for this program.”
The board also voted to appoint offensive coach Joseph Sandoni as interim head coach for the rest of the school year.
District leaders say they want to reevaluate their procedures and policies before hiring a head coach on a permanent basis.
Parents who spoke to NewsChannel 9 said they strongly back Sandoni and say if anyone is going to replace Green, it should be him.
It's important to note that all players on this year's football team were eligible to play.
