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University of Oklahoma Men's Basketball Cited for Violations

The University of Oklahoma committed major violations in its men’s basketball program, according to findings by the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions. The violations in this case included unethical conduct by a former assistant men's basketball coach, extra benefits, preferential treatment and ineligible participation.

Penalties in this case include recruiting restrictions, a scholarship reduction, vacation of records, a $15,000 fine and three years of probation for the university. A former assistant men’s basketball coach also received a two-year show-cause order, which restricts his recruiting activity at any NCAA member institution during that time.

This case was resolved through the summary disposition process, a cooperative effort where the involved parties collectively submit the case to the Committee on Infractions in written form. The NCAA enforcement staff, university and involved individuals must agree to the facts of the case in order for this process to be utilized instead of having a formal hearing.

The committee noted the violations in this case were serious, but limited to one men’s basketball student-athlete and an assistant men’s basketball coach. While the student-athlete was a prospect, a financial advisor wired $3,000 to the mother of the student-athlete. The money was used to pay a debt owed to his high school so his official academic transcript could be released to the university. The payment resulted in the student-athlete’s ability to enroll at the university. As a result, the student-athlete competed while ineligible and received travel expenses while representing the institution in competition during the 2009-10 academic year.

The former assistant men's basketball coach was cited for unethical conduct for failing to disclose his knowledge of the violation to the head men's basketball coach or athletics department. He also knowingly provided false and misleading information regarding the knowledge or his involvement in the $3,000 impermissible benefit.

The penalties include:

• Public reprimand and censure.
• Three years of probation from November 10, 2011, through November 9, 2014.
• Two-year show-cause order for the former men’s basketball assistant coach. The public report contains further details.
• Vacation of all wins in which the men’s basketball student-athlete participated during the 2009-10 season and a vacation of the student-athlete’s individual records. The public report contains further details.
• A $15,000 penalty paid by the university, representing $500 per contest played by the student-athlete while ineligible. Reduction of one scholarship for the 2011-12 academic year in the men's basketball program.
• Reduction in official visits by two during the 2011-12 academic year in the men's basketball program.
• Reduction in recruiting days by 30 for the 2011-12 academic year, in the men's basketball program.

The members of the Division I Committee on Infractions who reviewed this case include Melissa (Missy) Conboy, deputy director of athletics at the University of Notre Dame and acting chair of the Committee on Infractions. Other members are Roscoe C. Howard, Jr., attorney; John Black, attorney; Greg Sankey, associate commissioner of compliance for the Southeastern Conference; Eleanor Myers, faculty athletics representative and law professor at Temple University; James O'Fallon, law professor and faculty athletics representative at the University of Oregon; and   Dennis Thomas, the commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

For more information on the Enforcement process, click here.