Download the Oct. 2019 Mary Hardin-Baylor Public Infractions Decision
The Mary Hardin-Baylor head football coach impermissibly provided the use of his car to two student-athletes, according to a decision by the NCAA Division III Committee on Infractions. The coach violated head coach responsibility rules when he failed to promote an atmosphere for compliance and failed to monitor his staff.
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, involved individuals and the university must agree to the facts and overall level of the case to use this process instead of a formal hearing. The university contested the vacation of records penalty, but the COI maintained it on review of the university's written submission. The university may appeal the vacation of records to the Division III Infractions Appeals Committee.
In its decision, the committee said that football staff members, led by the head coach, violated recruiting and extra benefit rules by providing impermissible transportation.
First, two football staff members provided a football student-athlete, who was a prospect at the time, impermissible transportation. The head coach was aware of the transportation but did not check with compliance to see if it was allowed.
Second, the head coach provided the same student-athlete his car to use for approximately 18 months. The committee determined the use of the car was an impermissible benefit and resulted in the student-athlete competing while ineligible. The head coach provided his car for a second student-athlete to use, but the car broke down shortly after the student-athlete took possession.
"Of particular concern to the COI is the fact that a football staff member questioned the head coach about providing a car to the student-athlete, but the head coach dismissed the staff member's concern and took no action to ascertain the permissibility of his actions," the committee said in its report.
The penalties include the following:
- Two years of probation (self-imposed by the university).
- A vacation of records in which any ineligible student-athletes competed.
- A $2,500 fine (self-imposed by the university).
- Outside audit of the college's athletics policies and procedures to ensure that they are consistent with institutional guidelines and NCAA Division III rules (self-imposed by the university).
- A three-month suspension of the head coach and a suspension for the first three contests of the 2018 season (self-imposed by the university).
- Mandatory attendance for the head coach at a 2018 NCAA Regional Rules Seminar and attendance during each year of probation (self-imposed by the university).
- Mandatory attendance for all assistant football coaches, including the recruiting and academic coordinator, at a Regional Rules Seminar during probation.
The members of the Division III Committee on Infractions who reviewed this case included Christopher Bledsoe, assistant vice president for student affairs/athletics director at New York University; Sarah Feyerherm, vice president of student affairs and dean of students at Washington College; Amy Hackett, athletics director at Puget Sound; and Gerald Houlihan, committee chair and attorney in private practice.