MOREHEAD, Ky.--Morehead State University President Wayne D. Andrews announced today (Aug. 25) that the NCAA has determined that the men’s basketball program committed major violations in its recruiting related to a booster activity and that the University has accepted a summary disposition report developed by the NCAA and the institution.
As a result of the investigation, the program has been placed on probation for two years. The situation did not warrant a postseason ban or forfeiture of wins.
Dr. Andrews said that the NCAA agreed with MSU’s self-imposed penalties which include the loss of one scholarship in men’s basketball; a reduction in the number of recruiting days by 30 for 2009-10 and by 15 in 2010-11; a reduction in the number of official visits by three in 2010-11; and a reduction in the number of permissible telephone calls to each senior prospective student-athlete from two per week to one per week in 2009-10 (except for when arranging official visits); and a permanent ban from recruiting student athletes in all sports from the NIA school in Newark, N.J. Head Coach Donnie Tyndall will personally assume several of the missed recruiting days.
“We are very disappointed that we had NCAA violations in our men’s basketball program and I have expressed that to Coach Tyndall who has accepted full responsibility,” said Dr. Andrews. “We cooperated fully with the NCAA throughout the investigation. We learned much and identified system and process opportunities for improvement. We have begun to implement changes in our compliance programs that will enable us to move forward with confidence and avoid incidents of this type in the future.”
President Andrews said that the University will continue to develop a comprehensive educational program on NCAA legislation and will enhance all training for athletic staff, particularly with regard to recruiting rules. MSU will regularly report its progress to the NCAA during the two-year probationary period.
“It is upsetting to know how hard we work to stay within the rules of the game and to find anything contrary to NCAA rules occurring in our program,” said Brian Hutchinson, director of intercollegiate athletics. “Coach Tyndall and I have carefully analyzed all of the circumstances around this case so that this experience could serve as an opportunity to become more proactive in our compliance program. We are encouraged from our own investigation and that the NCAA also believed the violations did not warrant a postseason ban or forfeiture of any wins. Our athletes work very hard and have done so since I’ve been here. I feel much better knowing that current and future Eagles’ success won’t be affected by the violations.”
