The NCAA News - News and Features

July 20, 1998

II Infractions Appeals Committee upholds penalty against coach

The NCAA Division II Infractions Appeals Committee has upheld a penalty involving the former head women's basketball coach at Pfeiffer University.

The former coach appealed the NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions' "show-cause" penalty on the grounds that it was excessive. A "show-cause" penalty would require that if the former head women's basketball coach were to seek employment or affiliation in an athletically related position at an NCAA member institution for the next five years, she and the school seeking to employ her would be requested to appear before the Division II Committee on Infractions to consider whether her duties should be limited for a designated period of time.

The original decision concerning Pfeiffer was issued by the NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions November 11, 1997. The former coach filed a notice of appeal November 20, 1997, and a letter January 21, 1998.

At the coach's request and pursuant to NCAA legislation and procedures, the appeal was based solely on written record and was considered by the Division II Infractions Appeals Committee during a telephone conference May 21, 1998. The Division II Infractions Appeals Committee, upon reviewing the record, agreed with the Committee on Infractions that the penalty imposed for the former head women's basketball coach was appropriate and not excessive. This finding was supported by the nature and number of violations in the case, as well as by precedent set in similar cases.

The members of the Division II Infractions Appeals Committee who heard this case are: G. Jean Cerra, Barry University; Doug Echols, South Atlantic Conference; Alfreeda Goff, Virginia State University; Jerry M. Hughes, Central Missouri State University; Patricia A. Merrier, University of Minnesota, Duluth; Barbara J. Schroeder, Regis University (Colorado), chair, and Willie G. Shaw, Morehouse College.