Ohio State basketball violations 10-23-2017 to 1-29-2018

Sport

Item

Facts

WIH

Impermissible Phone Call

On August 9, 2017, head women's ice hockey coach, Nadine Muzerral, placed one phone call to an international 2021 pre‐prospective student‐athlete.

Coach Muzerral believed that, because the individual was not yet prospect‐aged, recruiting rules did not yet apply and that she could permissibly call the pre‐ prospect. Under NCAA Bylaw 13.1.3.1.5, it is not permissible to make a phone call to any international individual until July 7 following the completion of the individual's sophomore year of high school, including pre‐prospects. As such, a violation occurred.

MBB

Impermissible Publicity & Inducement

Result

B1G/NCAA

INST: In response to the violation, the institution 10/26/2017 has prohibited the women's ice hockey staff from calling the pre‐prospect until September 8, 2019.

The staff may not use their one call with the pre‐ prospect during the July 7‐31 period and may not call the pre‐prospect until one week after the first permissible date in September 2019. The institution also issued a letter of education to the women's ice hockey coaches and staff outlining the rules surrounding recruiting and phone calls to prospects. The institution believes that no further action is necessary.

NCAA: No further action is necessary .

INST: In response to the violation, the institution 11/16/2017 From September 8‐10, 2017, three 2018 prospective student‐athletes took an official visit at the institution. issued a letter of education to the men's basketball program and will prohibit any athletics On September 9, the men's basketball non‐coaching program from being in the vicinity of the ESPN staff took the three prospects on a campus tour, College GameDay set for the remainder of the including a tour past the center of campus (named 2017‐18 academic year. Education will also be "The Oval"), where the ESPN College GameDay set provided to the College GameDay producers and was located for the day. The prospects watched media analysts during future broadcasts that College GameDay in the same area as the general involve the institution. Since the contact with the public. After College GameDay had concluded, the College GameDay analysts was limited, not men's basketball staff took the prospects over to the prearranged, and occurred after the show had stage/set and the administrative assistant to ESPN concluded, the institution believes that no further analyst and former Ohio State student‐athlete Kirk action is necessary.

Herbstreit recognized and greeted men's basketball NCAA: No decision at this time.

Director of Player Development, Scoonie Penn. The administrative assistant allowed the group to walk onto the stage/set, which is not accessible to the general public. While on the stage, the prospects were introduced to Kirk Herbstreit and Eddie George, who are two former Ohio State student‐athletes, and two other GameDay analysts. The men's basketball staff was aware that under new legislation, it was permissible for the prospect to have on‐campus contact with former student‐athletes, such as Herbstreit and George. At no time was the show on

air when the prospects were on the stage. Following the introduction to George and Herbstreit, the prospects and staff departed the Oval.

While it is permissible under NCAA Bylaw 13.1.2.2 for prospects to have contact with former student‐ athletes (Herbstreit and George) on the institution's campus, there is no exception that would make it permissible for a prospect to have contact with the other two GameDay analysts, who were not former Ohio State student‐athletes. As such, a violation of NCAA Bylaws 13.10.1 and 13.10.2.4 occurred, as members of the media may not be present during an institution's recruiting contact with a prospect and a prospect may not participate in team activities that would make the public or media aware of the prospect's visit to the institution. Additionally, because the prospects gained access to an area of the College GameDay set not available to the general public, the prospects also received an impermissible inducement under NCAA Bylaw 13.2.1.

WGO

Impermissible Electronic Correspondence

On September 7, 2017, head women's golf coach, Therese Hession, emailed a 2020 pre‐contactable prospect. Coach Hession sent the email to the prospect with the understanding that her graduation year was 2019 and thus was contactable. After receiving a questionnaire completed by the prospect on September 25, 2017, Coach Hession learned that the prospect has a graduation date of 2020, thus was pre‐contactable. The head coach immediately self‐ reported the violation to the Compliance Office.

INST: In response to the violation, the institution will prohibit the women's golf coaches from sending any general or electronic correspondence to the prospect until September 8, 2018 (one week after the first permissible date to send general and electronic correspondence).

Additionally, the institution provided a letter of education to all women's golf coaches and staff emphasizing the rules regarding recruiting and electronic correspondence. The institution believes that no further action is necessary.

NCAA: : The institution should be required to prohibit the women's golf coaches from sending any general or electronic correspondence to the prospect for a period of two weeks, once it is otherwise permissible to have such communication.

11/7/2017

WCC

Impermissible Tryout

On October 9, 2017, the Compliance Office received a call from a local high school principal, who notified the Compliance Office that volunteer cross country coach, Eric Brill, was holding private workouts and lessons for a 2019 prospect. When asked, Coach Brill confirmed that he was holding private workouts and lessons with the prospect. He further confirmed that the prospect paid for these workouts and that no recruiting conversations occurred. Coach Brill believed that it was permissible to provide training services to the prospect and did not consult with the Compliance Office or head coach. Under NCAA Bylaw 13.11.1, it is not permissible for a member institution, on its campus or elsewhere, to conduct any physical activity at which one or more prospective student‐ athletes reveal, demonstrate or display their athletics abilities in any sport. Because Coach Brill had the prospect display her athletic abilities during the private workouts and did not meet a legislated exception, a violation occurred.

INST: In response to the violation, the institution 11/7/2017 has prohibited Coach Brill from continuing to provide lessons to the prospect. Additionally, the institution has required that the track program not recruit the prospect. The institution also provided a letter of education to all track coaches and staff emphasizing the rules regarding tryouts.

The institution believes that no further action is necessary.

NCAA: No further action is necessary

WFH

Impermissible Electronic Correspondence

On October 23, 2017, Women's Field Hockey Head Coach, Jarred Martin, sent a group email to prospective student‐athletes who have not yet signed a National Letter of Intent, the institution's offer of athletics aid, or paid an admissions deposit. While it was permissible to email each prospect individually, under NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1.5, all correspondence must be private between the prospect and coach until the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent, the institution's offer of athletics aid, or the prospect has paid his or her admissions deposit. Coach Martin self‐ reported to the Compliance Office after being educated by the Compliance Office that group emails were not permissible.

INST: In response to the violation, the institution 11/7/2017 will prohibit the women's field hockey coaches from sending any general or electronic correspondence to the prospects for a one‐week period. Additionally, the institution provided a letter of education to the women's field hockey coaches and staff emphasizing the rules regarding recruiting and electronic correspondence. The institution believes that no further action is necessary.

NCAA: In addition to actions already taken, the institution should be required to preclude the field hockey team from having written or electronic correspondence with the involved PSAs for an additional one (1) week.

WVB

Impermissible Text Message

On October 22, 2017, Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach Susan Halverson‐Maloney mistakenly sent a text message to a 2021 prospective student‐athlete.

The head women's volleyball coach had asked Coach Halverson‐Maloney to reach out to a contactable 2019 prospect regarding admission to the institution.

The head coach then forwarded the contact information for the 2019 prospect to Coach Halverson‐Maloney's phone. However, the head coach had inadvertently included the phone number of the 2021 prospect under the 2019 prospect's contact information. As such, when Coach Halverson‐ Maloney texted the 2019 prospect, she unknowingly texted the 2021 prospect instead. Once she realized she texted the 2021 prospect, she reported the violation to the Compliance Office.

INST: IIn response to the violation, the institution 11/7/2017 has prohibited the women's volleyball staff from having written or electronic correspondence with the prospect from September 1 through September 14, 2019 (two weeks after the first available opportunity). The institution also issued a letter of education to the women's volleyball coaches and staff outlining the rules surrounding general and electronic correspondence. The institution believes that no further action is necessary.

NCAA:No further action necessary.

WSY

Impermissible Electronic Correspondence

On October 24, 2017, a women's synchronized swimming assistant coach sent a group text message to prospective student‐athletes who have not yet signed a National Letter of Intent, the institution's offer of athletics aid, or paid an admissions deposit.

While it was permissible to email each prospect individually, under NCAA Bylaw 13.4.1.5, all correspondence must be private between the prospect and coach until the prospect has signed a National Letter of Intent, the institution's offer of athletics aid, or the prospect has paid his or her admissions deposit. The assistant coach self‐reported the violation to the Compliance Office after being educated that group text messages were not permissible.

INST: In response to the violation, the institution provided a letter of education to the synchronized swimming coaches and staff emphasizing the rules regarding recruiting and electronic correspondence. The institution believes that no further action is necessary.

Big Ten: No decision at this time.

1/7/2018

1/26/2018

MTR

Participation Prior to Certification

A men's track and field student‐athlete was added to the roster in Summer 2017. While the student‐athlete was listed on the team's squad list, he was inadvertently not added to the Institutional Request List with the NCAA Eligibility Center. The student‐ athlete practiced with the team from September 6, 2017, until November 17, 2017, when the Compliance Office discovered that his amateur status and academic eligibility were not certified with the Eligibility Center. Because the student‐athlete had practiced beyond the 45‐day temporary certification period, an NCAA violation occurred. Once the Compliance Office discovered the violation, the student‐athlete was immediately pulled from practice and registered with the Eligibility Center. The student‐athlete has since been certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center and has resumed practice.

INST: In response to the violation, the student‐ athlete was held from practice activities until certified by the Eligibility Center. The institution will review its policies to ensure that all student‐ athletes are being tracked on and certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center within the 45‐day temporary certification period.

NCAA: No further action necessary.

WLA

Responsibilities of Noncoaching Staff Member

On October 27, 2017, the women's lacrosse team was scheduled to play a game against its alumni. At the time of the game, the scheduled referees did not show up, and no one from our institutional event management staff was available. On such short notice, Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Alexis Venechanos placed her director of operations, Barbara Sullivan, as the referee for the game. Under NCAA Bylaw 11.7.3, noncoaching staff members are prohibited from participating in on‐field activities, including refereeing. As such, a violation occurred.

INST: In response to the violation, the institution 1/5/2018 provided a letter of education to all women's lacrosse staff members emphasizing the rules regarding noncoaching staff members. The institution believes no further action is necessary.

NCAA: The institution should be required to issue a letter of admonishment to the individual(s) responsible for the violation.