The University Interscholastic League made a point by highlighting the importance of accountability for transfer violations
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) imposed a severe penalty on the girls’ varsity basketball program at Oak Cliff’s Faith Family Charter School. On Wednesday, October 30, the UIL announced that Head Girls Basketball Coach Andrea Robinson, along with assistant coaches Kadi Creel and Jordan Jones, would each receive a two-year suspension from all UIL activities. Following this suspension, they will be on probation for an additional two years and will also face a public reprimand.
Furthermore, the UIL has placed the team and school on three years of probation, imposed a one-year suspension from postseason play for girls’ basketball, and issued a public reprimand.
On October 17th, the District Executive Committee (DEC) of District 13-5A, which includes Dallas Adamson, Dallas Hillcrest, Dallas Jefferson, Dallas Molina, Dallas South Oak Cliff, Dallas Sunset, and Dallas White, referred what they believed to be transfer violations to the UIL. This action followed their findings that the coaches were guilty of recruiting violations, lacked transparency, and withheld information regarding the transfers, according to the report. Initially, it was believed there were 13 transfers, but it was revealed on Wednesday that the number is actually 18.
Robinson has an impressive resume. She led Fort Worth Dunbar to two state titles in 2005 and 2007, and guided DeSoto to back-to-back state championships in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, she took DeSoto to two state runner-up finishes in 2019 and 2023. In late March 2024, Robinson was hired by Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy. She expressed her enthusiasm to the Dallas Morning News, stating, “The ceiling at Faith Family is extremely high. I believe that with the support and vision of the leadership, along with the resources they have, it can become the top girls’ program in the country.”
Among the notable transfers are five-star junior forward Amari Byles and four-star guard Amayah Garcia, both of whom played for Coach Robinson at DeSoto. Also joining the team are four-star forward Joy Egbuna from Mansfield Lake Ridge, four-star point guard Finley Chastain from Montverde Academy, and the Jordan sisters—Milania, Gianna, Natalia, and Nadia—from Southlake Carroll.
The UIL prohibits students from transferring for athletic reasons, and they have not yet made a decision regarding the eligibility of these players as the season in Texas is set to begin this Friday. According to the Dallas Morning News, it is possible that the players could return to their original teams and become immediately eligible.
Faith Family was in Class 4A and moved up to 5A this past UIL realignment, and the varsity boys team has won three 4A Basketball State Titles in a row; 22′, 23′, & 24′, plus have been to the state tourney in 20′ & 21′.
