In an outrage, this October, Armand Cotnoir won his appeal following his removal from a practice field where he was coaching in Plant City, Florida. Although it is routine practice for the league to check backgrounds on all referees, volunteers, and coaches, Cotnoir submitted his application late and the league skipped his check.

The league finally took action, asking Cotnoir to leave the field, after learning of his background from a reporter. Armand Cotnoir, a former police officer, has five felonies and served 14 months in federal prison.

“We’re furious about it,” said John Walters, supervisor for the Souther Independent Conference Officials Alliance, “How do I explain to referees that it’s okay for coaches to be convicted of a felony? We have less contact with children then the coaches do.” Walters had to turn down five referee applicants based on convictions that turned up in their background checks, including one man who had been convicted on a tax evasion charge several years ago.

How can this be allowed to happen? The committee which overheard the appeal was made up of a group of volunteers who are associated with the league — many of which are close friends of Cotnoir.

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