CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools leaders announced Thursday that East Mecklenburg High School must forfeit the 2007-2008 varsity football season after an investigation into allegations of illegal recruiting and practice violations.

A number of people are also being punished. Greg Hill, the school’s football coach, has been suspended from team-related duties until Sept. 2, assistant coach Richard Green has been suspended from coaching for two sports seasons and athletic director Bill Dulin lost his position. Dulin will remain on staff as a teacher. Also, a volunteer who had been working with the football team is now banned from assisting CMS athletic programs.

In addition, three players declared ineligible will be penalized and the school must pay CMS $7,038. The players will be forced to sit out the same number of games they dressed for during the 2007-2008 football season. CMS said the money owed is a combination of fines and repayment for money generated from ticket and concession sales.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association, to which CMS reported the violations on July 22, has placed East Mecklenburg’s football program on probation for one year.

CMS began investigating East Mecklenburg after someone called in a tip in June. Investigators said they found that the volunteer coach, who is now banned, was involved in recruiting the three football players now declared ineligible. That man, Jerry Robertson, denied any wrongdoing when talking to Eyewitness News early Thursday.

“Personally, I have not broken any rule,” Robertson said.

Robertson said he's volunteered with football teams in CMS since 1991.

“In my 17 years, in my mentoring and coaching, I've never enticed anyone to do anything illegal,” he said.

As for the East Mecklenburg investigation, Robertson said, “I've cooperated in many, many ways. Everything they have asked, I've had an answer.”

He told Eyewitness News reporter Tim Caputo that the alleged recruiting never happened, but he did admit he knew at least one student-athlete didn’t live in East Mecklenburg’s boundaries. He said he knew because he drove the student home.

“I said to him, ‘How the heck can you live out here and go to East Meck? He said when he was in eighth grade the choice system was still in effect and he picked East Meck as his first choice,” Robertson said.

He also said that breaking the rules isn’t anything new.

“Stuff like this has been going on forever,” he said.

The East Mecklenburg investigation also confirmed team practice rules were violated.

“There's a rule that prohibits practices on a Sunday and a rule that prohibits watching tapes on a Sunday. Those are among the violations,” said CMS Deputy Superintendent Maurice Green.

In the past year, CMS has investigated several schools for eligibility issues. The programs at South Mecklenburg, West Charlotte, Philip O. Berry and Independence have all been questioned.

The Independence football investigation was completed earlier this month. The investigators found no concrete evidence that staff members were illegally recruiting players.

South Mecklenburg was also forced to forfeit its season after a player was found to be ineligible and the investigators found that a staff member knew.