The Division II Committee on Infractions used the summary-disposition process to complete a case involving several self-reported violations in the women's soccer program at the University of Tampa.

The summary-disposition process is a cooperative effort used to resolve major violations through a written record rather than a hearing before the group. The process is used when the university, involved individuals and the NCAA's enforcement staff agree on the facts of the case and that those facts constitute a major violation.

Violations in this case included bylaws governing extra benefits, recruiting, improperly administered financial aid, impermissible employment in summer camps, tryouts, improper administration of outside income and ethical conduct.

The head women's soccer coach, the individual primarily involved in all the violations, had accepted employment at a Division I institution during the time of the investigation of this case. Penalties imposed by the Committee on Infractions in this case involve both universities.

The former Tampa coach provided improper financial aid to three soccer student-athletes during the 1998-99 and 1999-00 academic years. In addition, the coach provided transportation and housing to two prospective international student-athletes, and he conducted impermissible tryouts by his involvement with the two prospects while providing coaching instruction to a girls' soccer club team.

Specifically, the coach arranged for a $3,500 payment from his father to a student-athlete to pay tuition and fees during the fall of 1998 after learning that the student-athlete's athletics aid was not available. About a year later, the coach provided $1,500 each to two student-athletes to assist with tuition and fees. After leaving Tampa, he provided $3,000 to two student-athletes for tuition and fees and instructed them to split the money.

The coach acknowledged that procedures were in place at Tampa to raise funds to supplement budgeted athletics aid amounts. In the first instance, the coach's father could have made a donation to the women's soccer general account. However, the coach said he did not think that the student-athlete's account would be paid in a timely manner, so he instructed his father to make a direct payment to her account.

When he provided $3,000 to student-athletes after his departure from Tampa, the coach said he did so because he did not want to leave unmet scholarship promises. According to NCAA bylaws, he was a representative of Tampa's athletics interests at the time.

The Committee on Infractions also found that the coach violated the principles of ethical conduct. The coach knew that direct payments of tuition and fees to a student-athlete from an outside source were a violation of NCAA rules. Also, on two occasions, he provided false information about the provision or arrangement of cash to student-athletes.

In response to the violations, Tampa self-imposed the following corrective actions and penalties, which were adopted by the committee:

Enhanced its compliance program since hiring a new director of athletics in the fall of 1999, including implementing annual planning, resource allocation, education programs, financial aid monitoring, camp controls, monitoring of club team involvement, and written policies and procedures.

Completed a comprehensive external compliance review in September 2001.

Promoted the women's volleyball coach to assistant athletics director. That individual assists the other assistant director of athletics with compliance matters.

Instituted monthly compliance meetings and a formal orientation program for coaching staff members.

Improved monitoring of outside financial aid received by student-athletes, including adding a form for student-athletes to identify all aid received, which is then reconciled with the aid offered through the financial aid office.

Implemented summer camp documentation and controls.

Initiated a system that requires coaching staff members to notify the compliance coordinator before becoming involved with a local club team.

Developed and distributed an athletics department policy and procedure manual.

The head soccer coach's current employer imposed the following penalties on May 12, 2000:

Salary freeze.

Ineligibility to receive extra compensation.

No visits by international prospective student-athletes for one year.

Mandatory educational workshops for soccer staff.

No off-campus recruiting for six months.

Mandatory monthly meeting with compliance department for one year.

Mandatory attendance at all monthly staff meetings for one year.

The head coach's wife will not be permitted to serve as a volunteer coach.

All information regarding the case was to be reported to the compliance coordinator.

On November 14, 2001, additional sanctions were imposed. These are:

The head women's soccer coach will remain on probation until May 11, 2003.

A salary freeze remains until the university determines merit.

The coach will be ineligible for additional compensation.

Mandatory monthly meetings with the compliance department will continue during the probationary period.

The coach's wife will not be allowed to serve on the coaching staff in any capacity.

The coach will be required to attend monthly meetings with the senior woman administrator on the overall progress of the soccer program and its growth.

The university retains the right to terminate the coach immediately if there are additional NCAA or university rules violations.

The Committee on Infractions and Tampa agreed on the following penalties:

Public reprimand and censure.

One year of probation beginning on April 2, 2002.

The total amount of athletics aid provided in women's soccer was reduced by $20,000 from the original budgeted amount over the 2000-01 and 2001-02 academic years. The $20,000 reduction represents a two-for-one dollar repayment for the aid improperly distributed in previous years. During the 2002-03 and 2003-04 academic years, women's soccer grants-in-aid will be limited to the value of no more than four equivalencies in each year.

The women's soccer program did not provide initial athletically related financial aid to international students during the 2000-01 and 2001-02 academic years.

The women's soccer program was limited to no more than seven official paid visits per year for the 2000-01 academic year and five in 2001-02. That is a reduction of approximately three and five visits per year, respectively, from the level that otherwise would occur.

The university withheld one student-athlete from all outside competition (five contests) during the 2000 spring term as the university conducted its investigation. The three student-athletes involved in violations were required to repay funds as a condition of eligibility reinstatement.

The men's head soccer coach received a letter of reprimand for failing to properly administer summer camps he operated with regard to the employment of prospective and enrolled student-athletes.

During the probationary period, the university will continue to develop and implement a comprehensive education program on NCAA legislation and submit periodic reports to the NCAA. At the end of the probationary period, the university's president will provide a letter to the committee affirming that the university's current athletics policies and practices conform to all requirements of NCAA regulations.

As required by NCAA legislation for any institution involved in a major infractions case, Tampa is subject to the NCAA's repeat-violator provisions for a five-year period beginning on the effective date of the penalties in this case, April 2, 2002.

The members of the Division II Committee on Infractions who completed this case are: Les Brinson, chair, professor of psychology, North Carolina Central University; Larry Blumberg, professor of mathematics and statistics, Washburn University of Topeka; Michael Marcil, commissioner, North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; and Julie Warrington, assistant athletics director, University of Northern Colorado.

A copy of the complete report from the Division II Committee on Infractions is available on NCAA Online at www.ncaa.org.