IRONTON, Ohio (WSAZ) – Ironton City Schools announced on Friday night that the Fighting Tigers, the defending Division V state champions in Ohio, have been suspended from participating in this year’s playoffs despite ending the regular season 9-1.
The district said the Ohio High School Athletic Association notified them it determined coaching staff at Ironton High School engaged in recruiting violations in 2018, 2019 and 2025.
In addition to the suspension of Ironton High School’s participation in this year’s playoffs, Ironton City Schools said the program is facing other sanctions from the OHSAA.
These sanctions include suspending three coaches from coaching in next year’s playoffs, however, the statement from the school district didn’t specify which coaches are facing the suspension.
According to Ironton City Schools, the football program is also on probation through the 2027-28 season.
The district stresses the sanctions are coming specifically from the OHSAA, and the Ironton Board of Education has taken no action at this time.
Players told WSAZ they were informed the football team wouldn’t play in this year’s playoffs after practice on Thursday.
After word spread, many gathered outside the Ironton Board of Education in support of the team on Friday morning.
Senior running back Zayne Williams said, “It was just like a wave of emotions through the locker room. It hit everybody all at once. It was just a very sad situation. I mean, I can’t even really describe it, all the emotions that were flying, and it’s just really hurt us, really hurt us.”
Ironton faced off against the Portsmouth Trojans on Friday night for their final game of the season and celebrated an emotional senior night.
Maddie Newman, a senior celebrating senior night, said, “It hurts to see them cry and it’s our senior year.”
Ironton City Schools released a statement late Friday night after the game saying, “This is a setback, but this has not erased the hard work and accomplishments of our students as a team this year. We are so proud of them. We will not let this take away our pride or our legacy, and we will strive, as always, to uphold the values that define Ironton City Schools both on and off the field.”
WSAZ originally reached out to the OHSAA on Thursday and again Friday. A representative, Tim Stried said, “The players were informed on Thursday of several things, but there were still several things to work through today [Friday.]”
Stried says the organization will release more information about the investigation Saturday.
WSAZ will be following this story closely. Keep checking the WSAZ app and WSAZ.com for updates.
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