Download the Dec. 2017 University of Mississippi Track Coach Final Appeals Decision
A finding that the former Ole Miss head track and field coach acted unethically and failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance was upheld by the NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee. Because the appeals committee upheld the violation and the penalty, the coach must serve the one-year show-cause order prescribed by the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions panel. If he works for a member school during that time, his athletics duties may be restricted.
A Division I Committee on Infractions panel found the former head coach acted unethically when he failed to divulge to his institutional compliance office and the NCAA Enforcement staff his knowledge of impermissible recruiting activities by two former assistant coaches. The panel also found the former head coach failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance in his program because he was aware of impermissible recruiting contacts made by his former assistant coaches and failed to discourage the impermissible contacts and to report the same.
Members of the Infractions Appeals Committee are drawn from NCAA membership and members of the public. The members who reviewed this case are Patti Ohlendorf, vice president for legal affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and committee chair; Ellen Ferris, associate commissioner for governance and compliance at the American Athletic Conference; Jack Friedenthal, professor emeritus at George Washington University; and W. Anthony Jenkins, attorney in private practice.