The NCAA News - News and Features

September 1, 1997

Slippery Rock's men's basketball program penalties upheld

The NCAA Division II Steering Committee upheld the penalties imposed by the NCAA Committee on Infractions in an infractions case involving Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. The violations occurred in the sport of men's basketball.

Slippery Rock appealed the Committee on Infractions' findings on limiting the number of athletically related financial aid awards in men's basketball for the 1997-98 academic year. Slippery Rock argued that its self-imposed penalties and corrective actions were substantial enough and that limiting financial aid awards after the 1996-97 academic year was excessive and inappropriate.

The institution also noted that any improper awarding of financial aid by the head coach did not exceed what would have been allowed under NCAA legislation and that it voluntarily limited the number of equivalencies awarded during the investigation and case development.

The original decision concerning Slippery Rock was issued by the NCAA Committee on Infractions on August 10, 1996. The university filed a timely notice of appeal on December 30, 1996. The Division II Steering Committee considered the appeal during an April 15, 1997, meeting.

The Division II Steering Committee considered whether the penalties imposed on Slippery Rock were inappropriate or excessive based on the facts and circumstances of the case. It reviewed the nature, number and seriousness of the violations, the conduct and motives of the individuals involved, and what the institution has done to correct the problem. The steering committee also compared the penalties to those imposed in other cases with similar characteristics.

The Division II Steering Committee reviewed the evidence presented to the Committee on Infractions and agreed with the original decision based on the committee's findings that the financial aid penalty related to the men's basketball program for the 1997-98 academic year was appropriate and not excessive.

In reviewing the penalty, the Division II Steering Committee agreed that the scholarship penalty was warranted as a result of the advantage gained due to violations committed by the head men's basketball coach and the lack of institutional control. The steering committee also noted the fact that certain violations occurred for a number of years without being detected, which brought about the finding of a lack of institutional control.

The members of the Division II Steering Committee who heard this case were Robert T. Becker, Saginaw Valley State University; Lynn L. Dorn, North Dakota State University (Division II vice-president); Carol M. Dunn, California State University, Los Angeles; David P. O'Toole, Bellarmine College; Barbara J. Schroeder, Regis University (Colorado); Wil G. Shaw, Morehouse College; and Kent Wyatt, Delta State University.

The report of the Division II Steering Committee appears in the September 1 issue of The NCAA Register.