Florida Dept. of Education: FHSAA must review ‘antiquated’ recruiting rules

Pensacola News Journal | By Nick Wilson | July 24, 2025

The Florida Department of Education has formally taken steps to address fairness and competition in the Florida High School Athletic Association.

Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas sent an open letter to FHSAA Executive Director Craig Damon on Wednesday morning, directing the FHSAA to review its policies and “ensure a common sense approach to support student athletes and families …”

The directive comes in response to a wave of backlash the FHSAA received after Miami Northwestern suspended its head coach, and former alumnus, former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Northwestern administration suspended Bridgewater on July 14 after he posted a fundraising effort on his personal Facebook, saying he was paying out-of-pocket for most of his players’ needs like Uber rides, meals, postgame recovery and more.

Several of Bridgewater’s listed expenses fell under the same impermissible benefits infractions that the FHSAA punished The First Academy (Orlando) heavily for last year, and the FHSAA said it formally notified Northwestern that it had received allegations against the program and had begun gathering information on the issue a few days after Bridgewater’s post.

Northwestern suspended Bridgewater four days after he posted the inadvertent admission on Facebook.

Kamoutsas agrees with the prevailing sentiment online. While not specifically naming Bridgewater or Northwestern, Kamoutsas references a volunteer coach who was recently suspended.

A wave of support for Bridgewater flooded 71st Street and social media as a result. Many across the country see Bridgewater’s actions not as impermissible but as harmless or even necessary to support student-athletes today. Adding to the frustration is the fact that the former Miami Dolphins signal-caller was dipping into his own private money to provide resources for his alma mater that otherwise would not be there.

“Let us use this instance to reflect on FHSAA policies on the whole and whether they are serving the needs of student athletes,” Kamoutsas’ letter read. “I believe many of the FHSAA’s policies may be antiquated and out of step with the current landscape of school choice in Florida.”

While the FHSAA is an independent organization on paper, the state DOE maintains practical control over the FHSAA and its bylaws. All FHSAA bylaw changes must be approved by the DOE, and Kamoutsas, by Florida law, has the authority to direct the FHSAA to revise its bylines at any time (Title XLVIII, Chapter 1006, Florida Statutes).

Kamoutsas emphasized flexibility in a post on X, formerly Twitter, but does not disregard the influx of recruitment and transfers in high school athletics.

Four schools were forced to forfeit games last year either because of an ineligible player or because of impermissible benefits infractions. Northwestern was investigated by the FHSAA last year for using an ineligible player, but no wrongdoing was found.

“Florida is the school choice state, and as such, we must allow flexibility to maximize fairness and competition for our student athletes while ensuring that safeguards remain to prohibit illegal recruiting,” he said in his post. He reiterates the same in his letter.

The FHSAA has not provided an update on the Northwestern probe since July 15 and did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for one.

FHSAA backed into corner over impermissible benefits bylaw

The FHSAA was put in a tough spot after Bridgewater’s Facebook post, and Kamoutsas’ letter will force it to act. And regardless of the course of action, there are going to be unhappy parties who get the short end of the stick.

Jan 1, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) warms up before the start of the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

Either the FHSAA completely overhauls its approach to impermissible benefits and recruiting, which could potentially open it up to lawsuits from schools and players that have had entire seasons forfeited and paid thousands of dollars in fines for identical infractions like The First Academy – or the FHSAA maintains a strict approach to impermissible benefits and sets the stage for a similar debacle sooner rather than later.

It’s no secret that schools are finding unique ways to recruit players (either covertly or openly), and the FHSAA’s attempt at limiting illegal transfers is seen in its enforcement of the impermissible benefits bylaws. But players still transfer in and out of schools with impunity even with the rules in place, and it is highly unlikely that Bridgewater will be the last coach in Florida to make sure his player gets home safely in an Uber.

So does the FHSAA make an example out of Bridgewater and Northwestern by hammering them with suspensions, forfeiting the 2024 season, and revoking their Class 3A state championship? Or does it adjust course with today’s landscape, and find more effective ways to prevent recruiting by changing bylaws, and simultaneously exposing itself to lawsuits?