The NCAA Division III Infractions Appeals Committee has affirmed the findings imposed last fall against the former head football coach of Ohio Northern University.

The NCAA Division III Committee on Infractions released its findings regarding the former head football coach September 21, 2005, determining that Ohio Northern’s former head football coach and the members of his coaching staff conducted a number of impermissible out-of-season practices. The Committee on Infractions found that between June and mid-August 2003, the former head football coach and one of his assistants attended and provided skill instruction at "throwing sessions" attended by the quarterback and wide receivers. Additionally, during the week before the permissible fall preseason practice period, the coaches conducted larger practice sessions with position players.

The Committee on Infractions also rendered a finding of unethical conduct against the former head football coach based on knowingly violating the bylaws related to out-of-season practice. In addition, the committee rendered a finding of unethical conduct based on the former head football coach encouraging other coaches and student-athletes to provide false or misleading information to investigators.

In his appeal, the former head football coach’s argument related to the credibility of evidence and witnesses. The former head football coach routinely pointed to alternative testimony that was provided to the Committee on Infractions.

The Infractions Appeals Committee indicated that it is not within the purview of the committee to assess the credibility of evidence of witnesses. "The Committee on Infractions carefully considered the evidence, including inconsistencies alleged by the former head football coach and the motivations of the witnesses," the committee said in its report. "The committee also weighed the credibility of the student-athletes as well as other witnesses and examined the additional corroborating evidence presented."

After reviewing the record of the case, the Infractions Appeals Committee concluded that the Committee on Infractions’ findings "are not clearly contrary to the evidence presented."

The members of the Infractions Appeals Committee who heard this case were committee Chair Richard L. Torgerson, president, Luther College; Kristen E. Hall, director of athletics, Bard College; Douglas Hastad, chancellor, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse; Del Malloy, director of athletics, Salve Regina University; Kay E. Whitley, director of athletics, Sul Ross State University; Joyce Wong, director of athletics, Eastern Connecticut State University; and John (Chad) Yowell, executive director of athletics, Wheaton College (Massachusetts).