The Bishop Montgomery football program in Torrance, California, is unraveling under the weight of investigations, sanctions, and failed transfer attempts that now cross state lines. What began as a story about aggressive recruiting has quickly spiraled into one of the most significant high school football scandals in recent years.
As reported by Eric Sondheimer of the Los Angeles Times, 19 Bishop Montgomery players were ruled ineligible for two years after a CIF Southern Section investigation found violations of transfer bylaws. Originally, only five players were flagged, but further review uncovered widespread issues.
The program responded by firing head coach Ed Hodgkiss, canceling its season after just one game, and announcing the resignation of school president Patrick Lee following scrutiny from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Longtime booster Brett Steigh has been tied to the controversy. Steigh admitted publicly to paying for player tuition at St. Bernard (2020) and helping parents transfer their sons to Narbonne (2024). St. Bernard’s program collapsed amid IRS and FBI investigations into its operations, and now Steigh has been directly linked to Bishop Montgomery’s transfers.
On September 5, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles delivered a cease and desist letter to Steigh, forbidding him from involvement in Catholic school athletics. The letter, first reported by Sondheimer, underscores how deeply the Archdiocese is now stepping into enforcement.
The scandal’s ripple effects briefly reached Arizona. Adam Beadle (@therealbeadle on X) reported that Bishop Montgomery players had inquired about transferring into AIA programs, with the AIA aware and actively reviewing the situation.
But that door appears closed. Zach Alvira (@ZachAlvira on X) broke the news on Thursday that while Arizona schools were indeed contacted, every one of them turned the players away. Alvira added that there are “a lot of hoops to jump through” in such cases, and given the eligibility cloud over these athletes, it was unlikely Arizona schools would take the risk.
This entire case also highlights how CIF Southern Section has ramped up its transfer oversight. As the LA Times noted, the section has been using AI and new investigative resources to verify addresses and flag potential false information. What had long been a rubber stamp process is now under close surveillance, leading to forfeits for other programs such as Long Beach Millikan, and now the implosion at Bishop Montgomery.
The 19 players at the heart of the controversy are listed as ineligible for two years, though appeals could restore eligibility if CIF determines they did not knowingly provide false information. Until then, the fallout continues: Bishop Montgomery’s varsity program is finished for 2025, boosters are under legal pressure, and even Arizona schools have shut the door.
With the season already canceled and leadership changes underway, Bishop Montgomery football is facing a rough road ahead. The scandal has shaken up players, coaches, and the community, showing just how quickly things can spiral when rules aren’t followed. For now, the program’s main focus will be picking up the pieces and figuring out how to rebuild both trust and its reputation.
Credits: Reporting and updates from Eric Sondheimer (Los Angeles Times), Adam Beadle, and Zach Alvira.
