KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Following Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s decision to sign a new bill into law allowing high school athletes the ability to transfer once without consequence, local coaches are not exactly on board with the decision.
Beginning this summer, student-athletes who transfer between school years will be immediately eligible to compete. The change acts as a one-time free pass and marks a shift from previous rules, which required a verified change of address or a hardship waiver for immediate eligibility.
Gov. Lee signs bill easing transfer rules for high school athletes
Fulton boys basketball coach Jody Wright, who has served on the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Board of Control for 15 years, said many coaches in East Tennessee oppose the change.
“Are we losing our perspective on what high school athletics is all about?” Wright said. “Competing, teaching young men and young women how to handle success, how to handle adversity. College athletics, that genie will never get back in the bottle. In my opinion, it’ll never be what it was when we used to watch the sport growing up. It’s minor league athletics right now, and we certainly don’t want to see that coming to the high school level.”…