Darryl Overton, the former head football coach at Hayfield Secondary School in Fairfax County, Virginia, has transferred to lead a private school program at The James Performance Academy in Springfield. Overton’s initial transfer to Hayfield from Woodbridge, Virginia, in late 2024 led to controversy over player eligibility during the Virginia High School League (VHSL) playoffs.
The VHSL found that 14 players on Hayfield’s team had transferred from Freedom High School in Woodbridge, where Overton previously coached, and an additional 31 players on the team had transferred from other schools in the region. This violated VHSL rules against officials persuading student-athletes to transfer solely for sports. Overton denied any wrongdoing, and a Fairfax County Public Schools investigation did not find evidence of recruitment.
Despite VHSL’s initial suspension of Hayfield from the playoffs, a Fairfax County judge overturned the decision at the request of parents of Hayfield players. This led to a brief standoff with coaches from other Fairfax County schools threatening to withdraw from the playoffs unless the suspension was reinstated. Hayfield ultimately withdrew from the postseason, and the school’s athletic director resigned.
Overton’s new role at The James Performance Academy as Football Director marks a fresh start for the coach. The school has scheduled a meeting for interested parties to meet Overton on March 9. Despite the controversy surrounding his time at Hayfield, Overton is looking to make a positive impact on his new players and program at the academy.
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