NCAA Cites Southern Methodist University's Women's Swimming Program for Recruiting Violations

Recruiting violations occurred in Southern Methodist University's women's swimming program when the head women's swimming coach, Ozzie Quevedo, impermissibly contacted a transfer prospect and her family prior to the student-athlete entering the Transfer Portal, according to an agreement released by the Division I Committee on Infractions. The school, head coach and NCAA enforcement staff agreed that Quevedo engaged in impermissible contacts and violated recruiting rules. 

The parties agree that the violations in this case occurred when Quevedo had impermissible communications with a women's swimming student-athlete at another school and her father while knowing that the student-athlete had not entered the Transfer Portal. Quevedo first called the prospect and then emailed her father. A few days later, Quevedo sent the prospect multiple messages via WhatsApp. In each of the communications, Quevedo offered the prospect athletically related aid. The prospect denied Quevedo's offer; however, he continued to send messages and has since acknowledged he was aware he was engaging in impermissible conduct. 

Quevedo is responsible for the violations under head coach responsibility rules. However, Quevedo promptly self-reported the violations to the university's compliance office and accepted responsibility for them. Quevedo also acknowledged that he was well-educated and trained on recruiting rules and the transfer process; therefore, SMU did not fail to create an atmosphere of compliance or fail to monitor the program. 

The parties used ranges identified by the Division I membership-approved infractions penalty guidelines to agree upon Level II-mitigated penalties for SMU and Level II-standard for Quevedo. The decision contains the following list of penalties as approved by the Committee on Infractions:

• One year of probation.
• A $5,000 fine.
• A 10% reduction in paid official visits for the women's swimming and diving program for the 2024-25 academic year. 
• A one-week prohibition against unofficial visits in the women's swimming and diving program. 
• A four-week prohibition in recruiting communications in the women's swimming and diving program. 
  • A two-week prohibition has already been served and counts toward the four-week restriction (self-imposed). 
  • The remaining two-week restriction must be served when the swimming and diving Transfer Portal window opens during the 2024-25 academic year. 
• A one-year show-cause order for Quevedo. During the show-cause order, Quevedo must be restricted from attending practice for 15 consecutive days for the 2024-25 championship season and must attend the 2025 NCAA Regional Rules Seminar at his own expense. 
• Any school employing Quevedo in an athletically related position shall suspend him from 10% of the women's swimming and diving regular-season contests during the 2024-25 academic year. 
  • Quevedo cannot be present, have contact or communicate with women's swimming and diving coaching staff members or student-athletes during the suspension period. Additionally, Quevedo may not participate in any coaching activities, including team travel, practice, video study, recruiting or team meetings. 

Members of the Committee on Infractions are drawn from the NCAA membership and members of the public. The members of the panel who reviewed this case are Rich Ensor, former commissioner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and chief hearing officer for the panel; Norman Bay, attorney in private practice; and Vince Nicastro, deputy commissioner of the Big East Conference.