Larkin basketball coach sidelined over certification issue

Larkin High School girls varsity basketball coach Alphonso Lott did not coach the school's team Friday night against East Aurora and will not coach until a certification issue is resolved.

As reported on dailyherald.com Friday afternoon, the Daily Herald learned on Thursday that Lott, in his first season as Larkin's coach, did not hold the certifications required by the Illinois High School Association to be a coach.

Freshman coach Ruben Flores served as head coach on Friday when the Royals lost to East Aurora 66-29.

Coaches who are non-teachers are required to be certified. There are a number of ways a coach can get certified, the most common being through the American Sport Education Program. The IHSA requires coaches pass courses in coaching principles, first aid and an IHSA bylaws test in order to be certified.

According to the ASEP Web site, Lott passed the coaching principles class in 1996 but has not completed the other courses to become certified. Coaches who completed the coaching principles class in 1995 or before were grandfathered into certification when the IHSA added the other two courses as requirements.

"We've contacted the IHSA and (Lott) can't be the head coach until this issue is resolved," Larkin Principal Jon Tuin told the Daily Herald Friday afternoon. "It's still to be determined what role (Lott) will have with the program."

IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman confirmed that Lott won't be allowed to coach until he becomes fully certified.

"(Larkin) has been in contact with us and they're working with us on the issue," Hickman said.

Tuin said it's Larkin's desire to follow the rules.

"It's unfortunate and it's a technicality in a way," he said. "Had (Lott) taken the course in 1995 he would have been grandfathered in. But we want to be aboveboard and follow the rules. I think we have a much clearer understanding of those rules than we did before."

Lott did not coach the team on Tuesday night at Burlington Central but did scout the Elgin-DeKalb game. Published reports said he missed the game at Burlington for personal reasons but sources told the Daily Herald Lott had been suspended for one game for violating Upstate Eight Conference rules concerning using a player in both the sophomore and varsity games in one night.

IHSA Assistant Executive Director Beth Sauser confirmed Thursday that the IHSA had received an inquiry from Rolling Meadows High School concerning a player playing too many quarters in one night when the Royals played at Meadows on Jan. 28. That issue was moot, though, as the IHSA has no rules regarding the number of quarters a player can play in a night. No player can play more than 90 quarters in a season, exclusive of tournaments.

"I can't comment on that," Tuin said Thursday night when asked if Lott was suspended Tuesday. "I know he scouted the Elgin game."

Lott took over the program this season from Amy Silverman, who stepped down after 14 seasons. The Royals are 0-23 this season with a non-counting win against the Joliet sophomore team at the Oswego Christmas Tournament.