Maplewood football denied appeal by TSSAA, banned from 2026 playoffs

MT. JULIET – Maplewood was denied its appeal to become eligible for the 2026 TSSAA football playoffs, the association’s Board of Control determined in its June 9 meeting.

>The TSSAA on April 21 placed Maplewood's football program on restrictive probation, which triggered the playoff ban, after determining Panthers head coach Chris Simpson violated the TSSAA’s recruiting rule.

>Maplewood principal Sonya Brooks spoke before the board, acknowledging violations but asking for "leniency" in terms of the probation. She proposed that the playoff ban be lifted if the school took other corrective actions, which included schoolwide instruction with coaches on TSSAA rules, including having them sign a compliance form, and potential suspension for Simpson.

>"We're disappointed, but we appreciate (TSSAA's) work and enforcing their rules," said Mark North, athletic director for Metro Nashville Public Schools. "And we will continue to work to improve at Maplewood, and confident that the football program will continue to work hard and thrive."

>The TSSAA investigated after receiving information from another member school. According to a letter from TSSAA executive director Mark Reeves to Brooks, Simpson initiated contact with prospective student-athletes without the permission or knowledge of the administration from Maplewood’s cluster school, Jere Baxter Middle.

>According to the TSSAA, Simpson “initiated contact with prospective student-athletes when gathering addresses at a local park” to send an informational letter.

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>The TSSAA obtained a screenshot of a social media post that included a photo of an information letter from Simpson. It stated, in part, “we are very interested in your student-athlete becoming a part of the Maplewood Football family. We understand that your child may have several options when it comes to athletics and academics, but we truly hope Maplewood stands out as the best fit — both on and off the field.”

>Reeves’ letter to Maplewood states that “Coach Simpson disclosed that he sent one letter to a student attending a member school outside of the Maplewood cluster (Coopertown Middle School) because of his connection to the student’s father (Maplewood alum).”

>The TSSAA defines recruiting as using “influence on a student or the parents or guardians of a student, by any person(s) directly or indirectly associated with the school, to secure or retain a student for athletic purposes.”

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>The TSSAA’s guidelines for understanding the recruiting rule provide an example of “influence” as “inducing or attempting to induce or encourage any prospective student-athlete to attend any member school for the purpose of participating in athletics, even when the special remuneration or inducement is not given. Any initial contact or prearranged contact by a member of a coaching staff or representative of the school and a prospective student-athlete in the seventh grade and above. Coaches or their representatives sending questionnaires, cards or letters, contacting, or visiting prospective student-athletes and/or their families at their homes.”

>Reeves’ letter states that the term “coach” indicated that the person initiating the contact was acting in their capacity as a coach. If the person serves another role and is not acting as a coach, it may not be a violation, unless the contact clearly is meant to influence for athletic purposes.”

>The TSSAA’s initial reprimand was a $1,500 total fine for Maplewood. The school’s football program was put on regular probation through the 2027-28 school year, in addition to restrictive probation for 2026-27. The program is also not allowed to have any additional offseason practices in 2025-26 and will be limited to five days of offseason practice within a 15-consecutive-school-day period in 2027-28.

>Any student who received a letter and doesn’t attend Jere Baxter Middle will be ineligible at Maplewood for 12 months if they enroll at the school.

>This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA denies Maplewood football appeal, banned from 2026 playoffs