A Millard South volunteer assistant football coach committed an act of undue influence when he had two players living with him without legal guardianship, The World-Herald learned Thursday after a public records request.
Because of the violation of NSAA Bylaw 2.8, the players were deemed ineligible when they played in the defending state champion’s season-opening game, a 49-7 win at Las Vegas Arbor View that the Nebraska School Activities Association board of directors made the school forfeit.
But the board made the players eligible if they established guardianship. Both played in last Friday’s game at Kearney, a 72-0 win, after not playing the previous week against Millard West.
The Millard School District provided the NSAA letter of determination to The World-Herald. Names were redacted in the letter:
“(Redacted) is a volunteer assistant coach at Millard South High School.
“(Redacted) and (redacted) are living with (redacted).
“(Redacted) is not the legal guardian of (redacted) and (redacted).”
Multiple sources told The World-Herald the volunteer assistant involved is Joe Glab. He coaches in the Junior Patriots youth program. His son, Carter, is a returning All-Nebraska player who is committed to the Army.
The players involved are brothers MJ and Tatum Wash, who played for Mill Valley in Shawnee, Kansas, last season. Each posted on social media in May they were coming to Millard South.
“After talking with my family and many prayers, I have decided to reunite with my club coaches and teammates at Millard South High School, Omaha, NE for my senior year!” was MJ Wash’s post on X from May 20.
The next day, Tatum Wash’s posted on X: “I couldn’t miss this opportunity to play with my brother his senior year I will miss my MV family.”
MJ Wash is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior rush end who has six total tackles in two games for the top-ranked Patriots. As a sophomore, he won the Kansas 6A 215-pound wrestling title.
Tatum Wash is a 6-3½, 270-pound sophomore who starts at offensive guard.
The school district appealed the Sept. 8 ruling by NSAA Executive Director Jennifer Schwartz at a closed hearing conducted electronically with the NSAA board and Schwartz on Sept. 11.
The sanctions placed on the Patriots, besides the forfeited game, include new coach Taylor Mendenhall being suspended for two games, Glab put on a one-year suspension (through Sept. 11, 2026) from coaching at any high school in the state and the school fined $500 and required to submit a written action plan to Schwartz for lack of administrative oversight.
stu.pospisil@owh.com, twitter.com/stuOWH
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Stu Pospisil
Reporter – High school sports
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