Principal of Montclair Prep Charges Coercion in Acceptance of Penalties

Montclair Prep founder and Principal Vernon E. (Doc) Simpson said Thursday that he believed he had “a gun to his head” when he signed an agreement with Southern Section Commissioner Stan Thomas that barred the school’s athletic program from the playoffs for one year and terminated John Hazelton’s job as assistant football coach.

In speaking publicly on the subject for the first time, Simpson said that he felt coerced into signing the agreement and that he signed it “under protest.”

“I signed it because I wanted this whole thing over with,” Simpson said at the Southern Section office in Cerritos, where he testified on Hazelton’s behalf. “I did not want to sign it, but with a gun to my head and the threat of destroying our entire program . . . I had no alternative.”

Simpson said that he appeared Thursday although his attorney, James Blatt, said his presence was not mandatory. Blatt helped coordinate the agreement between Montclair Prep and the Southern Section on April 23.

But Simpson said that he came to the hearing in part to face Jerome and Eric Sparks, brothers whose testimony against Montclair Prep earlier in the year brought on Thomas’ investigation and the ensuing penalty.

Jerome Sparks was present Thursday in Cerritos, but Eric was not.

“I came today because I’ve never been given a chance to face Jerome Sparks and call him a liar to his face,” Simpson said. “I was hoping Eric would be here too.”

“My attorney said that I didn’t have to come today, but we’ve been shafted so many times in the press that I wanted to face them face to face.”

Simpson also said that, while he felt the penalty levied by the Southern Section was far too harsh, he is “a man of my word” and will live up to the agreement.