School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi Jr. said three assistant Southington High School football coaches have resigned and information provided by the former coaches prompted an administrative investigation into a checking account used by the team for equipment purchases.

"There was an exit interview that took place with the high school administration," Erardi said Friday. "Out of that interview came information that we felt that we had to further investigate."

Offensive Coordinator Frank Stamilio, Offensive Line Assistant Coach Mike Prairie and Defensive Line Assistant Coach Tony Mazzarella Sr. resigned last week after expressing concerns to school officials about the Blue Knights Football account.

"No way did I want to resign," said Stamilio, an 18-year veteran of the coaching staff. "We could not continue under certain circumstances that we believed exist."

Stamilio said he would return to coaching if the concerns were resolved "pretty much in a heartbeat." He said he would not explain his concerns until the administration completes its investigation.

The Blue Knights Football account served as a pass-through account for money collected from players for equipment, but later included funds raised separate from the football booster club. Erardi said money in the Blue Knights Football account was used to order T-shirts and additional equipment for players.

Members of the coaching staff, including head football coach Bill Mella, controlled the account.

Two athletic department employees with knowledge of the administrative investigation said that Mella's use of funds in the Blue Knights account is part of the investigation.

Mella did not return phone messages left at the school and his home Thursday and Friday.

Erardi would not comment on whether police are involved in the investigation.

Erardi said external auditors recommended in 2007 that the district close any bank accounts with links to the school system that didn't have central office oversight. He said there are only "one or two" such "quasi-checkbooks" in the district.

In recent months, the Board of Education discussed such accounts and moved toward implementing the recommendations made by the external auditors. After the discussion, school administrators relayed the concerns to the coaches and asked them to close the Blue Knights account.

"We had asked our football coaches to close that checkbook out," he said.

Stamilio, Prairie and Mazzarella, upon reviewing the account checkbook, decided to resign.

According to Erardi, the high school administration had a standard exit interview with the coaches because of their resignation. During the interview the coaches shared their concerns, which the high school administration passed on to central office officials.

"No comment," said Athletic Director Eric Swallow when asked about the investigation Thursday. "I think at this point in time it's premature."

Board of Education member David Derynoski said he would not discuss the resignations because of an "ongoing audit" that would be finished soon.

"I guess there's been some allegations," Derynoski said.

Mella is a physical education teacher at Southington High School. He has been head coach for four years.

In April, the Connecticut High School Coaches Association announced Mella as its choice to coach the Connecticut team in the 11th annual Connecticut/Rhode Island Governor's Cup Classic scheduled for June 27 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.

Mella chose Stamilio and two other Southington assistant coaches to join him on the sidelines for the Cup.

Erardi said he expected to have more information about the account as early as next week.

High School Principal Kathy McGrath did not return calls for comment.

Board of Education member Terri Carmody declined to comment on the resignations.

"It's a personnel issue," Carmody said. "I really don't know many details about it."

Gridiron Club Vice President Kelly Walowski, reached at her home, also declined to comment.

Southington High School Principal Kathy McGrath did not return calls for comment.

This story appeared in the Meriden Record-Journal Saturday, June 6.