Head coach of Phoenix high school involved in football scandal resigns

PHOENIX — The head football coach at a Phoenix high school involved in a leaked information scandal has stepped down, the school said Tuesday.

Rich Wellbrock announced his resignation from the school, which is in Phoenix’s Ahwatukee area and is part of the Tempe Union High School District, on Monday evening.

“While it was a difficult decision for Coach Wellbrock, he feels this is the right decision for him personally and for Mountain Pointe Football,” the school’s administration said in a letter to parents Tuesday.

“Mountain Pointe administration will begin a comprehensive and competitive process to ensure the school secures the best candidates for this position,” the letter stated.

“The administration is committed to finding a highly skilled coach focused on supporting student athletes and leading the football program with pride and respect.”

An assistant coach was fired last month for allegedly sharing inside information with opposing football teams for years.

Justin Hager, who was also the varsity girls basketball coach and a physical education teacher, reportedly shared “protected information about formations, game plans, signals and player eligibility with opposing coaches” since 2017, according to the school district.

Officials were tipped off by football coaches at Faith Lutheran, a Las Vegas high school that played against Mountain Pointe in August.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association decided not to punish any of the teams that may have benefited from the leaked information but did express concern that the story didn’t surface sooner.

The Mountain Pointe team ended its season with a 1-9 record.

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