San Marcos football suspended from 2023-24 postseason, head coach suspended 5 games

San Marcos High School’s varsity football program has been banned from postseason play for the 2023-24 season.

The state executive committee of the University Interscholastic League made the decision during a meeting Tuesday in Pflugerville. The SEC found that San Marcos violated the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules, Section 409, Recruiting. San Marcos athletic director and head football coach John Walsh was suspended for five games. San Marcos Consolidated ISD officials said Walsh’s suspension is effective immediately. San Marcos High School assistant coach Lee Vallejo has been suspended from coaching for two years.

UIL SEC hearing announced San Marcos High School’s appeal of the District 27-6A executive committee’s decision to bar the varsity football program from postseason eligibility for two years. Additionally, 12 student-athletes were ineligible after District 27-6A’s executive committee said they transferred for athletic purposes.

The San Marcos football program regained playoff eligibility after the first UIL SEC meeting on Oct. 3. However, Walsh and Anderson each received three years of probation and were also publicly reprimanded.

During its Oct. 3 meeting, the UIL SEC said it reserves the right to review possible postseason sanctions following a student-athlete rights hearing.

All 12 San Marcos High School student-athletes have been suspended for 3 years after they appealed their varsity eligibility status to the UIL SEC. The UIL oversees high school athletics in the state.

Although San Marcos is barred from postseason play in 2023-24, the Rattlers are eligible for the playoffs this season. San Marcos’ season continues Friday against New Braunfels at Toyota Rattler Stadium in San Marcos at 7:30 p.m.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.