In 2006, PNHS's football program was found to be in violation of multiple Illinois High School Association rules, mainly stemming from illegal recruitment of players. As a result, the PNHS football team was barred from competing in the state playoffs for the next two years and the head coach of the football program, Dan Darlington, was suspended for the remainder of the 2006-2007 season. Dr. Peter Pasteris, the school's inaugural principal, was also barred from acting as the school's official representative to the IHSA, later being dismissed as the school's principal after a vote by the school board.