WOODLAND HILLS—Pierce College’s head football coach, Carlos Woods, is under investigation for charging the school’s athletes rent to stay in a locker room and a cramped apartment.
Pierce College’s paper, The Roundup News, first reported the investigation on Wednesday, October 9 after multiple complaints were made by staff and school athletes. Allegedly, Woods’ charged $300 to $400 for housing until they were evicted for missing rent payments.
A group of 30 players, many of them from other states, were living in a three-bedroom apartment located on De Soto and Vanowen Street. The coach claimed they would have until the end of the fall 2018 semester to live there. Once the notice of eviction was placed on their door, the coach informed players that, “They are on their own.”
At least four players who lived in the apartment, ended up living at an on-campus locker room after they were notified of the eviction.
One of the former players, Josh Cordova, stated that Woods’ “Promised actual living space, and it ended up being like a camp/jail with how many people were living in that house,” Cordova told the Roundup News. “Lines Woods had crossed would be 30 guys in a three-bedroom [apartment] and almost half of his recruits wouldn’t pay rent and bills wouldn’t be paid.”
Cordova was one of the players to confront Woods’ about the situation and was kicked off the team. He was forced to live in his car after the eviction and no longer attends Pierce College.
Players who wished to remain anonymous described the living conditions to the Pierce College newspaper. They explained they slept stacked up on bunk beds and cots in any available space in the apartment.
Woods’ is also being investigated for recruiting out-of-state players and other ineligible athletes to compete in games.
The school’s president Alexis Montevirgen announced Thursday, October 10 that Woods has been placed on temporary administrative leave.
“We hope to name an acting head coach for the football team within the next few days,” Montevirgen told the Roundup News in an email.
