Riverside Notre Dame Faces Section Sanctions

Riverside Notre Dame High’s football program is facing sanctions by the Southern Section after an investigation concluded that improper contact took place with prospective athletes.

“The CIF Southern Section is deeply troubled by recruiting efforts by a small group of individuals associated with the Notre Dame football program,” Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton said.

“We found improprieties and rules violations that appear to have gone back to the transfer of two students two years ago.”

The allegations were made against Hal Pfeiffer, Notre Dame’s football coach and athletic director.

Pfeiffer has been placed on paid administrative leave.

A Notre Dame parent videotaped Pfeiffer meeting last February with a group of parents from other schools.

Pfeiffer allegedly offered to help find ways to pay the cost of tuition if the parents had their sons enroll at Notre Dame.

“Offering financial incentives to lure high school athletes is legally and morally wrong,” said Father Howard Lincoln, a spokesman for the Diocese of San Bernardino.

“We are already putting safeguards in place to ensure this never happens again.”

Pfeiffer declined to comment.