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SPORTSFriday 15 January 2016
Missouri admits NCAA hoops violations, vacates ‘13-14 season
R.B. FALLSTROM 14, Frank Haith’s final sea- team. Rhoades said he was
AP Sports Writer son. Haith left for Tulsa not aware last March when he
The University of Missouri long after the school re- replaced AD Mike Alden
admitted NCAA violations ceived a verbal notice of and said he has “worked
in its men’s basketball pro- inquiry from the NCAA in extensively from Day 1 to
gram dating to 2011 and April 2014. resolve this.”
banned itself Wednesday The Tigers won just nine The school hopes the issue
from the postseason this games last season under will be resolved this spring.
year and vacated all 23 new coach Kim Anderson “Every kid’s goal is to go the
wins from the 2013-14 sea- and are 8-8 this season, NCAA Tournament, so ob-
son. The NCAA is still inves- coming off the worst loss in viously when that’s taken
tigating and Missouri said it Mizzou Arena history — a away there’s disappoint-
was working with the orga- 94-61 setback to Arkansas ment,” Anderson said. “I
nization in hopes of limiting on Tuesday that Anderson think we did the right thing.
the punishment to its self- said made him “embar- We felt like it was best to do
imposed sanctions, which rassed.” it now and then move for-
includes the SEC tourna- “A lot of things run through ward and put it behind us.”
ment. “We have faced this your head,” Anderson said. Haith was suspended for
issue head-on,” athletic di- “I’m disappointed that the five games by the NCAA at
rector Mack Rhoades said. actions of a few individu- the start of the 2013-14 sea-
“These are not decisions als have put our program in son for inadequately moni-
we took lightly. We really this type of situation.” toring former assistants in-
felt like it was the right thing Anderson said he wasn’t teractions with a disgraced
to do, and it will help put us aware of the investigation Miami booster and then try-
in position to move this pro- when he was hired and felt ing to cover up a five-figure
gram forward.” bad for forward Ryan Ros- hush money payment to
Missouri was 23-12 in 2013- burg, the lone senior on the keep potential violations
Missouri’s Russell Woods, right, dunks the ball ahead of Savan-
nah State’s Brian Pearson during the first half of an NCAA college
basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, in Columbia, Mo.
(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
hidden. garcoat” the message.
The investigation found that “Who knows whether we
Haith and Miami assistant would qualify for the post-
coach Jake Morton paid season?” Anderson said.
Nevin Shapiro $10,000 after “Today, I would say I don’t
he threatened to expose know.”
previous improper contact Besides the postsea-
with high school recruits son ban, the school has
and amateur coaches. stripped itself of one schol-
Haith’s attorney, Scott arship this season and a
Tompsett, said his client did second scholarship no later
not learn about the NCAA than the 2017-18 season,
investigation last Febru- plus has restricted recruit-
ary when the NCAA con- ing through 2016-17. It also
tacted Tulsa to inform the said it would pay a $5,000
school of it. Tompsett said fine.
Haith cooperated fully with The school permanently
the NCAA and has been in- banned one unidentified
formed that he will not be donor who the NCAA said
charged with any violations provided impermissible
or wrongdoing. benefits to three players
“It has been Coach Haith’s and one recruit in 2013-
position throughout this in- 14. The benefits included
vestigation that he acted compensation for work not
appropriately at all times done at a business through
and that he monitored his a summer intern program,
program and promoted along with housing, $520
an atmosphere of com- cash, local transportation,
pliance,” Tompsett said. iPads, meals and use of a
“The fact that the enforce- local gym.
ment staff has not charged “It is clear from our collabor-
Coach Haith with any vio- ative investigation with the
lations validates our posi- NCAA that a former mem-
tion.” ber of our athletics staff
The Tigers didn’t practice and members of our donor
Wednesday and Anderson community violated NCAA
said he told players to “re- bylaws, and we take those
set your goals.” He also said actions seriously,” Chancel-
there was no need to “su- lor Hank Foley said.q
