The University of Connecticut’s men’s basketball program received two years of probation for violations that took place under former coach Kevin Ollie. The NCAA announced the penalties in a release on Tuesday.
The Division I Committee on Infractions found that Ollie failed to monitor his staff and did not promote an atmosphere of compliance. Citing three situations — pickup games exceeding preseason athletic activity limits, a video coordinator counting as a coach resulting in more than the allowable number of coaches, and a booster providing impermissible benefits to student-athletes — the committee hit UConn with two years of probation as well as additional penalties, including recruiting restrictions, scholarship reductions and fines that the university self-imposed.
Ollie was hit with a three-year show-cause penalty, in part because he gave false testimony to school enforcement staff.
“Failing to give the enforcement staff truthful information significantly harms its ability to conduct a thorough and timely investigation,” read the committee report. “The conduct was contrary to the standards of ethical conduct that the membership expects of athletics staff entrusted to set an example for student-athletes.”
Ollie had reportedly denied to enforcement staff that he had been involved in arranging or planning a video call between a recruiting prospect and a former professional basketball player, when the committee found evidence that he had in fact made plans to that effect.
“This case illustrates the importance of full candor and cooperation in the infractions process, as well as head coach control,” the committee said. “The former head coach faltered in both respects, increasing the severity of his violations and allowing violations within the program to occur for most of his tenure.”
