The Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Central Board of Control on Wednesday morning denied an appeal by Hoover High School that could have allowed Adam Moseley to coach his baseball team this season.

Moseley was one of the coaches on the USA Baseball Under 18 National Team in September. The roster for that team, which won the gold medal, included one of his Hoover players.

According to an AHSAA bylaw written and voted into the constitution by member schools, a coach in any sport cannot coach one of his players in competition outside of season during the school year. Since the games took place in September, a violation took place.

When this happens, according to the AHSAA rule book, it “renders that student or the offending coach ineligible in the sport in which the violation occurred for that school season.” Moseley plans to sit out this season so his student can play.

“I’m disappointed that they determined that the precedent equates to an AAU or travel baseball event,” Moseley said. “That’s the precedent they decided to use. …. I’m thankful for our admin being here with me.”

Moseley and his wife traveled to Montgomery for the appeal along with Hoover principal John Montgomery, athletic director Andy Urban and the mother of the player involved. Moseley, Montgomery and Urban all spoke to the Board.

One of their main arguments was that Moseley, who was the pitching coach for Team USA, did not coach his Hoover player, who was not a pitcher.

“I’m also extremely disappointed that the AHSAA does not accept documentation from USA baseball, the governing body of our sport, with regards to the role I played and whether or not I coached the player,” Moseley said.

Moseley, who previously coached a USA 15-and-under team, said he was originally offered the position for the 18U national team in Jan. 2021, but that year’s event was canceled due to the COVID pandemic. He was offered the same spot in Jan. 2022 for this year’s event.

At that time, he said Wednesday, his Hoover player was not a part of the process. He said the player wasn’t offered a chance to try out until May 2022. When the player did try out and make the team, he maintained he did not coach him.

“I had 11 pitchers who were all high-maintenance,” he said. “I love (the player), but I didn’t have any time to deal with him directly. In fact, one time he asked me if everything was OK because I was distant from him. … I had no instruction of him in anyway.”

Montgomery said he believed there hadn’t been a past precedence where a player and coach were selected to represent their country in hopes that it would make a difference in the appeal process. Urban said, it was his understanding from previous conversations, that the AHSAA would work toward a possible solution to the issue, though there was no written indication of that provided.

“I think the only mistake was in communication,” he said.

Urban addressed the Central Board during its July meeting in regard to possibly changing the verbiage of the rule or adding a caveat.

“In July, we talked about the process of a proposal change or adjustment but indicated it would not be done in time is my recollection,” Board president Mike Welsh said. “I understand it’s an honor (to coach Team USA), but it is what it is in this case – a violation of the rules and bylaws we are obligated to enforce.”

Urban said his mistake was thinking something could be done before the current season.

“I told him (Moseley) that he had earned the opportunity to coach and, if he stayed there, we would work toward a solution,” Urban said.

Moseley was asked directly by Board member Terry Curtis what he would have done had Urban told him there was not going to be a change in the bylaws in time for the 2023 season.

“I would have come home,” he said. “I wouldn’t have liked it, but I would have come home.”

AHSAA associate executive director Kim Vickers presented an email exchange from Feb. 2022 with Urban that outlined specifically what a violation of the rule would mean in regards to either Moseley or the player having to sit out the season.

The Board went into executive session for approximately 25 minutes before rendering its decision.

Urban said assistant coach Chris Wilson is in place to lead the Bucs this season. Baseball practice for AHSAA teams started this week. The first games can be played Feb. 16. The Bucs are scheduled to play Hueytown in the PBA Alabama Kickoff Classic on Feb. 17.

Former Hoover and Auburn star Sonny DiChiara, Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon, UAB coach Casey Dunn and ESPN basketball commentator Jay Bilas have been among those defending Moseley on social media platforms this week.

Moseley is in his ninth season as the Bucs coach.

This post will be updated