AHSAA puts Jacksonville football program on restrictive probation, suspends Sullivan, assistant for a year.
By Joe Medley
The AHSAA has placed Jacksonville High School’s football program on restrictive probation for the 2026 season and levied one-year suspensions for head coach Jeremy Sullivan and assistant coach Phileepae Holloway, the AHSAA announced today.
The team will be permitted to play its 10-game regular-season schedule but will be unable to participate in the 2026 playoffs. Games played against Jacksonville High School will not count in the Class 4A, Region 6 region standings nor in any tiebreakers, since the school is ineligible for championship play.
Jacksonville High School’s varsity football program must forfeit all games won in which the ineligible players participated. The AHSAA also fined Jacksonville an unannounced amount.
Jacksonville High officials plan to appeal, with Principal Jonathan Skinner releasing a statement.
“Jacksonville High School does not agree with the ruling issued by AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon following the investigation conducted by AHSAA regarding alleged recruiting violations,” the statement read. “After carefully reviewing the ruling and the circumstances surrounding the investigation, Jacksonville High School will move forward with the formal appeal process. We will continue to support our students and staff members who are impacted by this decision and will fully participate in the appeal process.
“Jacksonville High School remains committed to ensuring that our students and staff are treated fairly throughout this process. JHS will provide additional information as appropriate as the appeal process moves forward.”
The AHSAA release cited Rule VI, Administration, Section 12, Recruiting.
“No person connected in any way with a school may contact a student or prospective student, or his or her parents or guardian who resides outside of the school distinct, to inquire or encourage them to transfer or enroll in their school for the chief purpose in participating in interscholastic athletics.
“This rule and applies to any impermissible contact with third-party ‘go-between’ individuals connected to a school in any way. Third parties include, but are not limited to, trainers, private instructors, outside coaches, boosters, etc.”\
Students in violation of this rule will be deemed permanently ineligible to participate in athletics at Jacksonville High School, the AHSAA release said.
This is the second time the AHSAA has penalized Jacksonville this season. Jacksonville had to forfeit its season-opening victory over Piedmont, and quarterback Cross Land sat out two games, region victories over Lincoln and Sylacauga, before returning to action in a region victory at Central-Clay last week.
Update
–As expected, Jacksonville associate head coach Alphonso Freeney will be the Golden Eagles’ interim head coach
–The AHSAA has ruled two players ineligible. School officials have declined to name them at this time. The most recent violations are not tied to the furniture issue that impacted QB Cross Land earlier this season.
–Jaacksonville officials have only begun the appeals process, but no date has been set for the District 6 meeting. Could take weeks.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
