Hoover Coach Resigns Over Rules Violation

Dennis Hughes said Thursday he has resigned as Hoover High’s football coach after school administrators threatened to fire him for using an ineligible player in Friday’s forfeited 48-34 victory over Glendale.

Hoover (1-9) violated a Southern Section rule by playing linebacker Yeprem Davoodian, who was kicked out of the Tornadoes’ previous game against Crescenta Valley.

A rule that went into effect this season stipulates that a player kicked out of a game for any reason must sit out the next game.

“I did not know the rule and that’s my fault,” Hughes said.

Hughes, who coached Hoover for 11 seasons, will continue to teach health and physical education. He said it was “heartbreaking” to be asked to resign over what he called an “honest mistake,” but said he has no intention of taking legal action.