Friday night problems: Alabama high school football coach banned for season after recruiting violation

Zach Golson Suspended as Mary G. Montgomery Faces Recruiting Sanctions

Zach Golson, head football coach at Mary G. Montgomery High School in Semmes, Alabama, has been suspended for the entire upcoming season after the school admitted to recruiting violations. School officials placed him on administrative leave and directed him to leave campus following an investigation by the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The violations centered on an event for eighth-grade students who planned to join the high school program, including participants outside the school’s attendance zone.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association received a report from a principal at a rival school about the event, which included social media posts showing the ceremony. Mary G. Montgomery officials acknowledged the breach, resulting in the team being placed on probation. The squad will also be barred from postseason play, and any victories over Mary G. Montgomery will not count toward opponents’ records in Division 6A Region 1 standings.

Students who participated in the event but live outside the Mary G. Montgomery attendance zone must now compete for the school in their proper housing district. The case highlights ongoing tensions over player eligibility in Alabama high school football, where zoning rules determine school assignments and rival programs monitor potential boundary issues closely.

Mary G. Montgomery players will compete in what amount to exhibition contests for the season, with no postseason opportunity available. The suspension removes Golson from the sideline while the program operates under the imposed restrictions.