To provide continuing education to you as part of this week’s weekly Compliance Corner, we are highlighting some recent examples across the nation of impermissible NCAA booster interactions with student-athletes occurring at other Division I institutions. As these are part of the public record, we are able to share these with you to serve as cautionary tales to ensure this type of NCAA impermissible activity does not occur here at Clemson and affect the eligibility of our recruits and student-athletes.
1.) MEN’S BASKETBALL CASEFour boosters provided more than $12,000 in complimentary all-inclusive vacations, cash, meals, golf, and the use of a car to a student-athlete in violation of NCAA rules. $10,000 worth of all-expenses-paid trips were provided by one booster, and two other boosters provided free golf outings and meals at a country club where they were members. One other booster left $200 cash in the locker room for the student-athlete during practice. The fourth booster arranged a free weekend stay at a resort for the student-athlete.
NCAA Rules Application = This was a violation of the NCAA extra benefits rule. This refers to any special arrangement by an institutional employee or booster to provide a student-athlete or his/her family or friends with a benefit that is not generally available to the institution’s students or their family members or friends and is provided based on their athletics ability.
Penalty = Vacation of records for the two years in which the student-athlete participate while ineligible, reduction of one scholarship, disassociation of one of the boosters, and a $5,000 fine.
2.) SWIMMING & DIVING CASE
Coaching staff arranged for prospect to reside with boosters which resulted in approximately $5,346 of impermissible recruiting inducements. The prospect moved to the locale of the institution while trying to qualify academically for the upcoming academic year. The prospect lived with boosters rent-free for eight months.
NCAA Rules Application = This was a violation of the NCAA impermissible recruiting inducements rule. This refers to any booster making arrangements for or giving or offering to give any financial aid or other benefits to a prospect or his or her family members or friends other than what is generally available to the institution’s prospective students or their family members or friends and is provided based on their athletics ability.
Penalty = Coach suspended from NCAA employment for one year, $5,000 fine, significant scholarship reductions, 3-week ban on recruiting activity.
3.) MEN’S TENNIS CASEBooster owned rental properties in the locale of the institution and provided impermissible benefits to approximately 14 student-athletes when he did not require each student-athlete to pay a $325 security deposit, pay the properties’ utilities, nor sign a lease agreement. The total value of the impermissible benefits was approximately $9,548.
Penalty = Coach suspended from NCAA employment for five years, $5,000 fine, vacation of records for competition in which ineligible student-athletes competed, significant reduction in scholarships, 3 week ban on recruiting visits.
Please continue to Ask Before You Act to avoid these types of scenarios, and always feel free to contact Clemson University Athletic Compliance Services at cuacs@clemson.edu.
