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MU announces details of NCAA review

Posted at 3:28 PM, Jan 13, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-13 19:32:20-05

Mizzou Athletics announced Wednesday the university imposed a one-year postseason ban for the 2015-16 men’s basketball season and vacated all wins from the 2013-14 season after an NCAA review showed violations of NCAA bylaws.

According to the news release from Missouri Athletics, the University of Missouri has worked collaboratively with the NCAA enforcement staff to review potential violations in its men’s basketball program.

The news release states through the investigation, it became evident violations of NCAA bylaws occurred dating back to 2011. In December 2013, the NCAA enforcement staff received information regarding potential violations involving a then men’s basketball student-athlete. The news release states a verbal notice of inquiry was provided to the institution on April 14, 2014.

“We are obviously very disappointed that the actions of a few individuals have put our program in this situation. However, I am appreciative to Mack Rhoades and our staff for their guidance and support throughout this process,” head men’s basketball coach Kim Anderson said in a statement. “I hurt for our kids more than anything and for our only senior Ryan Rosburg in particular, but I am confident we will overcome this and be stronger as a team and as a staff because of it.  We are committed to representing this great university and state with honor and integrity and that’s what we are going to do.”

Violations of NCAA bylaws

The news release states there were multiple violations based on supporting evidence, which both the university and the NCAA agree occurred.

Some of the violations included:

  • A donor (Representative 1) to MU Athletics providing impermissible benefits to three men’s basketball student-athletes and one prospective men’s basketball student-athlete from 2013-2014. The news release states the impermissible benefits included compensating student-athletes for work-not-performed at a business through a summer internship program.
  • A second donor (Representative 2) provided impermissible benefits to 11 student-athletes and three members of one student-athlete’s family from 2011 to 2014. The benefits included providing the athletes with a “friends & family” reduced rate at a hotel as well as meals and a ride on a recreational boat.
  • Representative 1 had multiple impermissible recruiting contacts with a prospective student-athlete and paid for a meal for a non-scholastic coach, in violation of NCAA bylaws.

Click here for a full list of violations

According to the news release, once NCAA violations were substantiated, the university said it took action to hold student-athletes, staff and donors who were involved accountable. The news release states some of those actions included:

  • Restitution and withholding from competition for impermissible benefits received by student-athletes was imposed as necessary.
  • The former associate head men’s basketball coach was prohibited from off-campus recruiting for a period of three months while the review process was underway.
  • The university permanently disassociated Representative 1, prohibiting him from receiving tickets, making donations or otherwise representing the university.
  • The university disassociated Representative 2 for a period of two years, prohibiting him from receiving tickets, making donations or otherwise representing the university.
  • The university vacated all wins from the 2013-14 season.
  • The university will pay the NCAA a fine in the prescribed amount of $5,000.
  • The university self-imposed the loss of one men’s basketball scholarship in 2015-16 and an additional scholarship loss to be incurred no later than the 2017-18 season.
  • The university placed restrictions on the recruiting activities of the men’s basketball staff during the years of 2014-15 through 2016-17.
  • The university imposed a one-year postseason ban for the 2015-16 men’s basketball season, which prohibits the team from participating in the 2016 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, and any other postseason competition sanctioned by the NCAA. As such, the university will not receive any revenues from the 2016 SEC or NCAA men’s basketball tournaments.

The news release states the violations originated under the tenure of the previous men’s basketball staff, and there is no evidence that any current staff members were aware of the violations.

The Associated Press reports the NCAA is still investigating and Missouri said it was working with the organization in hopes of limiting the punishment to its self-imposed sanctions, which includes the SEC tournament.

The attorney for Frank Haith, former Mizzou head basketball coach and current Tulsa head basketball coach, released the following statement:

Coach Haith cooperated fully with the investigation conducted by the NCAA enforcement staff and we have been informed by the enforcement staff that Coach Haith will not be charged with any violations and, therefore, has been cleared of any wrongdoing. It has been Coach Haith’s position throughout this investigation that he acted appropriately at all times and that he monitored his program and promoted an atmosphere of compliance. The fact that the enforcement staff has not charged Coach Haith with any violations vindicates our position.

Coach Haith wishes the best to the University of Missouri, its men’s basketball program and his former student-athletes in getting through this difficult time.

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