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Former Alta football coach Les Hamilton has been cleared by the Canyons School District of allegations that he accepted bribes, stole from the booster club and attempted to hinder college coaches' attempts at recruiting his players.
According to a statement released by the district Wednesday, "allegations of financial irregularities in the football program at Alta High School" were "completely unsubstantiated and without merit."
The district had been investigating Hamilton for about a month, and interviewed Hamilton, 37, while he was home for the holidays. He moved to Chile shortly after Alta was eliminated from the 5A playoffs to accept a job as an executive at a seafood company owned by the father of one of Hamilton's players at Alta.
In a statement e-mailed to The Tribune, Hamilton said, "I am sorry that my family and the entire Alta Nation have been perceived in a negative light. I have spent 6 amazing years as part of the Alta community and will always have fond memories and lasting friendships. I would like to thank my friends and family for their support."
Hamilton was also accused of taking team merchandise from the concession stand, which Hamilton said he did with the permission of the booster club, and withholding letters of interest from players that he received from college coaches.
"It's an unfortunate situation with some false accusations that the district picked up on, and it became public," said Joe Joyce, Hamilton's attorney and a former assistant coach under Hamilton for five seasons at Alta. "It should have never become public, and it should have never gone as far as it did.
"It could have been handled a lot differently," Joyce added. "If the people who had concerns would have just gone to Les Hamilton, it could have been resolved."
Hamilton maintained his innocence throughout the investigation, saying he was "100 percent confident" he would be cleared.
"They just want to make me look like someone I'm not," Hamilton said in December of the people accusing him of misconduct. "Those that do know me and know me well and have been a part of our program know that we've done everything right."
boram@sltrib.comTwitter: @oramb