Sept. 22, 2000
DALLAS -
A series of penalties have been imposed on the UNLV men's basketball program by UNLV President Dr. Carol C. Harter, who informed the NCAA's Infractions Committee of the actions during the committee's hearing on Friday.
The penalties were a result of admitted recruiting violations involving a booster in addition to secondary violations by the men's basketball staff, which were all outlined in the University's response to the NCAA Official Inquiry, dated June 9, 2000.
"These self-imposed penalties and corrective measures are meaningful and appropriate given the findings by the University's investigation," said Dr. Harter. "This entire process has been a learning experience that has further strengthened our commitment to the rules. Our goal is to make our men's basketball program not only one of the most competitive teams, but also one of the most focused on rules compliance."
The University imposed the following penalties:
* For both the 2001-02 and the 2002-03 academic years, the number of athletics scholarships that may be awarded each year shall be reduced by one (from 13 to 12) and the number of official visits shall be reduced by two (from 12 to 10). Thus, over those two academic years, the total number of scholarships that may be awarded will be reduced by two and the number of official visits will be reduced by four.
* For the summers of 2001 and 2002, no recruited men's basketball prospective student-athlete shall be permitted to move to Las Vegas prior to the time he arrives to begin classes as a full-time enrolled student at the University.
* Beginning with the 2001-02 academic year, all incoming men's basketball student-athletes, both freshmen and junior college transfers, shall be required to reside in University housing and participate in a University meal plan throughout their first academic year in residence.
* For the 2001 and 2002 summers, head men's basketball coach Bill Bayno shall reduce his off-campus evaluation days from 70 to 35 and utilize the remaining 35 days to direct the men's basketball program from his campus office.
Prior to Friday's hearing, the University had imposed three sanctions on the men's basketball program as a result of secondary violations reported to the NCAA prior to the Official Inquiry. The sanctions were outlined in the University's response to the Official Inquiry.
The one-day hearing before the Committee on Infractions was held at the Dallas airport. It is
anticipated that the findings of the Infractions Committee will be mailed to the University in six to eight weeks.
"The hearing was very thorough and the University had ample opportunity to answer questions posed by the Committee on Infractions," said Dr. Harter.
The University's representation included Dr. Harter, Director of Athletics Charles Cavagnaro, Coach Bayno, Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Myrlene LaMancusa, Senior Associate Director of Athletics Jerry Koloskie, Director of Compliance Eric Toliver, Tom Ray, General Counsel of the University and Community College System of Nevada, and Mike Glazier of Bond, Schoeneck & King, a law firm specializing in NCAA enforcement matters.
