Tennessee Former Head Coach Cited for Men's Basketball Violations

[frogbyproxy]

This one is going to hurt for a few years! I believe the probation includes basketball only but will search for more info. Football had 10 secondary violations all recruitment related. The university had just stated two days ago as long as they did not recieve probation they felt they could survive.


http://www.ncaa.org/...4+d1+coi+tn+rls


Tennessee Former Head Coach Cited for Men's Basketball Violations
Embargoed Until

Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 3 p.m. Eastern time
Contact(s)
Stacey Osburn
Associate Director of Public and Media Relations
317/917-6117


INDIANAPOLIS --- The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, failed to monitor its men's basketball program, according to findings announced today by the Division I Committee on Infractions. As part of the findings, the former head men's basketball coach was cited for failure to monitor and unethical conduct for providing "false and misleading information" and asking others to do the same. In addition, three former assistant men's basketball coaches were cited for a failure to cooperate with the investigation.

Penalties include a show-cause order for the former head men's basketball coach, which prohibits him from engaging in recruiting activity for three years at any NCAA member school. Each of the three former assistant men's basketball coaches received a one-year show-cause order, which also prohibits recruiting activity. In addition to the 20 penalties self-imposed by the university and conference and agreed to by the infractions committee, Tennessee must also serve two years of probation. The public report provides greater detail on these penalties.

While the investigation included allegations of major violations in the football program, the committee concluded that the evidence was insufficient to support findings of major violations.

However, the committee stated it was "troubled by the number and nature of the secondary infractions by the football coaching staff during its one-year tenure at the institution."

The football staff committed 12 secondary violations over 10 months, all of which were related to recruiting.

While the basketball violations stemmed from impermissible recruiting contact and phone calls, the committee stated the most serious allegations included the former coaching staff's provision of false and misleading information and their encouragement of others to do the same, including recruits and a parent.

"Head coaches bear primary responsibility for monitoring all aspects of their programs and promoting an atmosphere for compliance," stated the committee report. "It is also presumed that head coaches know or should know of violations in their programs, particularly when the violations occur over an extended period of time."

The men's basketball violations began when three prospects and their families attended a dinner at the home of the former head coach in conjunction with their unofficial visits to the school. After they spent some time at the dinner, the former head coach ushered the prospects and their families to an outdoor veranda. According to the committee, he informed them that their attendance was a violation of NCAA rules and encouraged them to not disclose their presence to others.

The former head coach did not report the violations and denied knowledge of them when later questioned during the investigation. Further, he placed a series of phone calls to a prospect's father in an effort to influence him to make false and misleading statements during the investigation. The former head coach later provided truthful information to investigators during a subsequent interview.

The three former assistant coaches did not cooperate with the investigation when they failed to provide full and complete information to the university and NCAA enforcement staff. Two of the assistant coaches compromised the integrity of the investigation when they shared information among themselves regarding their interviews, according to committee findings.

The investigation also revealed the men's basketball coaching staff placed 94 impermissible phone calls to 12 prospects over two years. The committee found these violations were not discovered in a timely fashion, which led to the failure to monitor by the university and the former head coach.

The public report details each of the penalties self-imposed by the university or conference and adopted by the committee. The additional penalties imposed by the committee include:

• Public reprimand and censure.
• Two years of probation from August 24, 2011, through August 23, 2013. The public report further details these conditions.
• Three-year show-cause order for the former head men's basketball coach from August 24, 2011, through August 23, 2014. The public report further details these conditions.
• One-year show-cause order for each of the former assistant men's basketball coaches from August 24, 2011, through August 23, 2012. The public report further details these conditions.

The Division I Committee on Infractions is an independent group comprised of representatives across NCAA membership and the public. The committee members who reviewed this case include Dennis Thomas, the commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and chair of the Committee on Infractions. Other members are Britton Banowsky, commissioner of Conference USA and vice-chair of committee; John Black, attorney; Melissa Conboy, deputy director of athletics at the University of Notre Dame; Brian Halloran, attorney; Eleanor Myers, faculty athletics representative and law professor at Temple University; and James O'Fallon, law professor and faculty athletics representative for the University of Oregon.

 

[frogbyproxy]

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/0d173f804814594c989ddcc110a6426c/20110824+Tenn+Public+Inf+Rpt.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=0d173f804814594c989ddcc110a6426c



All I can say is OUCH! :blink: D. PENALTIES.

[font="Times New Roman][size="3"][font="Times New Roman][size="3"]For the reasons set forth in Parts A and B of this report, the Committee on Infractions finds that this case involved major violations of NCAA legislation. In determining the appropriate penalties to impose, the committee considered the institution's self-imposed penalties and corrective actions. [Note: The institution's corrective actions are contained in Appendix Two.]

The committee also considered the institution's cooperation in the processing of this case. Cooperation during the infractions process is addressed in Bylaw 19.01.3 -

[/size][/font]

[/size][/font]Responsibility to Cooperate [font="Times New Roman][size="3"][font="Times New Roman][size="3"], which states in relevant part that, "All representatives of member institutions shall cooperate fully with the NCAA enforcement staff, Committee on Infractions, Infractions Appeals Committee and Board of Directors. The enforcement policies and procedures require full and complete disclosure by all institutional representatives of any relevant information requested by the NCAA enforcement staff, Committee on Infractions or Infractions Appeals Committee during the course of an inquiry." Further, NCAA Bylaw 32.1.4 – [/size][/font][/size][/font]Cooperative Principle [font="Times New Roman][size="3"][font="Times New Roman][size="3"], also addresses institutional responsibility to fully cooperate during infractions investigations, stating, in relevant part, "The cooperative principle imposes an affirmative obligation on each institution to assist the enforcement staff in developing full information, to determine whether a possible violation of NCAA legislation has occurred and the details thereof." The committee determined that the cooperation exhibited by the institution met its obligation under Bylaws 19.01.3.3 and 32.1.4. The cooperation the institution demonstrated in this case is in stark contrast to the conduct and failures of the former men's basketball coaching staff. [/size][/font][/size][/font]

[font="Times New Roman][size="3"][font="Times New Roman][size="3"][/size][/font][/size][/font]Penalties imposed by the Committee on Infractions

[font="Times New Roman][size="3"][font="Times New Roman][size="3"]1. Public reprimand and censure.

2. Two years of probation from August 24, 2011, through August 23, 2013. (The institution proposed a two-year term of probation commencing with the date the institution submitted its response to the NCAA's notice of allegations, with annual

University of Tennessee, Knoxville Public Infractions Report August 24, 2011 Page No. 14 __________

compliance reports to the NCAA and Southeastern Conference during the probationary period).

3. The former head men's basketball coach allowed prospective student-athletes and members of their family to attend a dinner at his home when he knew doing so violated NCAA rules. He told the prospects and their family members not to tell anyone about their attendance at the gathering, and he failed to report the knowing violation to the athletics administration. He provided false and misleading information to investigators when questioned about the incident, and he attempted to influence the father of one of the prospects to give investigators a certain version of the events. Therefore, the committee imposes a three-year show-cause period upon the former head men's basketball coach. During this period, which begins on August 24, 2011, and ends August 23, 2014, the committee prohibits the former head men's basketball coach from conducting any and all recruiting activities as defined by Bylaw 13.02.13.

Within 30 days of the release of this report or 30 days after the hiring of the former head men's basketball coach, whichever is later, any employing institution shall file a report with the office of the Committees on Infractions setting forth its agreement with these restrictions or asking for a date to appear before the committee to contest the restrictions. Every six months thereafter through the end of the period of the show-cause order, the employing institution shall file further reports detailing its adherence to these restrictions.

4. Former assistant coaches 1, 2 and 3 violated the principles of cooperation and honesty when they failed to furnish full and complete information relevant to the investigation of the September 20, 2008, dinner at the home of the former head men's basketball coach. Therefore, the committee imposes a one-year show-cause order upon them. During this period, which begins on August 24, 2011, and ends August 23, 2012, the committee prohibits former assistant coaches 1, 2 and 3 from conducting any and all recruiting activities as defined by Bylaw 13.02.13.

Within 30 days of the release of this report or 30 days after a member institution hires former assistant coaches 1, 2 or 3, any employing institution shall file a report with the office of the Committees on Infractions setting forth its agreement with these restrictions or asking for a date to appear before the committee to contest the restrictions. Every six months thereafter through the end of the show-cause period, the employing institution shall file further reports detailing its adherence to these restrictions. University of Tennessee, Knoxville Public Infractions Report August 24, 2011 Page No. 15 __________

5. During this period of probation, the institution shall:

a. Continue to develop and implement a comprehensive educational program on NCAA legislation to instruct the coaches, the faculty athletics representative, all athletics department personnel and all institution staff members with responsibility for the certification of student-athletes' eligibility for admission, financial aid, practice or competition;

b. Submit a preliminary report to the office of the Committees on Infractions by October 15, 2011, setting forth a schedule for establishing this compliance and educational program; and

c. File with the office of the Committees on Infractions annual compliance reports indicating the progress made with this program by June 15 of each year during the probationary period. Particular emphasis should be placed on recording and tracking all recruiting activities, particularly telephone calls. The reports must also include documentation of the institution's compliance with the penalties adopted and imposed by the committee.

6. During the period of probation, the institution shall:

a. Inform prospective student-athletes in men's basketball that the institution is on probation for two years and explain the violations committed. If a prospective student-athlete takes an official paid visit, the information regarding violations, penalties and terms of probation must be provided in advance of the visit. Otherwise, the information must be provided before a prospective student-athlete signs a National Letter of Intent.

b. Publicize the information annually in men's basketball media guides (or web posting), as well as in a general institution alumni publication to be chosen by the institution with the assent of the office of the Committees on Infractions. A copy of the media guides, alumni publication, and information included in recruiting material shall be included in the compliance reports to be submitted annually to the Committees on Infractions.

7. At the conclusion of the probationary period, the institution's president shall provide a letter to the committee affirming that the institution's current athletics policies and practices conform to all requirements of NCAA regulations. University of Tennessee, Knoxville Public Infractions Report August 24, 2011 Page No. 16 __________

[/size][/font][/size][/font]Penalties imposed by the institution and conference

[font="Times New Roman][size="3"][font="Times New Roman][size="3"]8. Prohibited the current men's basketball coaches and staff from providing off-campus occasional meals, per Bylaw 16.11.1.5, to the men's basketball team during the 2011-12 academic year. (Institution imposed)

9. Reduced by 50 percent (from 10 to five) the number of football coaching staff members permitted to make recruiting telephone calls to prospective student-athletes during the first day of the November 2011 contact period. (Institution imposed)

10. Reduced by six (from 168 to 162) the number of men's basketball permissible recruiting person days for the spring 2011 evaluation period. (Institution imposed)

11. On September 9, 2010, reduced the former head men's basketball coach's total compensation by $1.5 million through June 30, 2015, and delayed (by a period of two years and seven months) a $500,000 retention bonus that he was scheduled to receive on November 30, 2012. (Institution imposed)

12. On September 9, 2010, reduced the respective salaries of former assistant coaches 1, 2 and 3 by approximately 25 percent. (Institution imposed)

13. On September 9, 2010, prohibited the former head men's basketball coach and former assistant coach 2 from all off-campus recruiting activities for a period of one year; former assistant coach 1 for a period of nine months, and former assistant coach 3 for a period of three months. (Institution imposed)

14. Terminated the employment of the former head men's basketball coach and former assistant coaches 1, 2 and 3 on March 21, 2011. (Institution imposed)

15. In the sport of men's basketball, during the fall 2010 contact period when recruiting calls were generally unlimited, restricted calls to senior prospective student-athletes to two calls per week (except for days of permissible contacts). (Institution imposed)

16. Reduced by 50 percent (from two calls per week to one call per week) the number of calls permitted to high school senior prospective student-athletes by the former head men's basketball coach and his staff from September 24, 2010, to August 1, 2011. (Institution imposed)

University of Tennessee, Knoxville Public Infractions Report August 24, 2011 Page No. 17 __________

17. On November 18, 2010, suspended the former head men's basketball coach from all coaching-related duties during the first eight SEC men's basketball contests. (Conference imposed)

18. Prohibited recruiting phone calls for a two-week period for the former head men's basketball coach (February 24 to March 4, 2010), and for a five and one-half month period (January 1 to June 15, 2010) for former assistant coach 1. (Institution imposed)

19. In the sport of men's basketball, prohibited all recruiting telephone calls during the week of August 7 through August 14, 2010. (Institution imposed)

20. Prohibited the men's basketball staff from making any off-campus recruiting contacts during one week of the September/October 2010 contact period. (Institution imposed)

21. In the sport of men's basketball, reduced by 20 percent (from 130 to 104) the number of permissible recruiting-person days for the 2010-11 academic year. (Institution imposed)

22. Prohibited former assistant coach 1 from off-campus recruiting activities for a 10-day period during the summer 2010 evaluation period. (Institution imposed);

23. In the sport of men's basketball, reduced by 33 percent (from 12 to eight) the number of permissible official visits during the 2010-11 academic year, and prohibited official visits during two home football game weekends in September 2010. (Institution imposed)

24. Required the entire men's basketball staff to attend a 2010 NCAA Regional Rules Seminar. (Institution imposed)

25. Permanently restricted all non-coaching football staff members from recruiting-related travel. (Institution imposed)

26. Prohibited the recruitment of football prospective student-athletes from the high school attended by the intern from December 18, 2009, through September 1, 2010. (Institution imposed)

27. Prohibited the football staff from sending any recruiting correspondence, including National Letters of Intent or Southeastern Conference financial aid agreements, to prospective student-athletes at the high school attended by the

[/size][/font][/size][/font]