Breaking news from Whittier Prep Editor Andrew J. Campa: St. Paul High School Principal Kate Aceves suspended the varsity football coaching staff Thursday and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles launched an investigation Friday into an alleged hazing incident involving players at the school last weekend.
Neither school nor archdiocese officials would provide details of the incident, which occurred in the school’s locker room on Aug. 14.
Aceves sent an e-mail to parents Thursday, informing them of the incident, the coaches’ suspensions and of the joint investigation by the school and archdiocese.
Tod Tamberg, the archdiocese media relations director, confirmed Friday that St. Paul head coach Marijon Ancich and all but two of his assistant coaches “were put on leave” while the investigation is under way.

Here’s a letter that was sent from new principal Kate Aceves to football parents on Thursday.

Dear Parents:

I am writing to advise you that yesterday, I placed our varsity football coaching staff on leave pending an investigation into a hazing incident which allegedly occurred on Saturday, August 14 in the St. Paul High School varsity locker room and which was reported to me this week. In order to assure continuity and that our student athletes are provided with practice time and conditioning without interruption, I have asked the freshmen coaching staff to conduct varsity practices and, as needed, to coach varsity games on an interim basis. In the investigation, we will be working with the Archdiocese and will be reviewing the entire hazing matter in accordance with our school policies which are outlined in our Parent/Student & Faculty handbooks from both a student and staff perspective.