The NCAA did not classify violations committed by former members of the UALR baseball program as major infractions and will require no additional action following the school's self-imposed penalties, UALR announced Wednesday in documents released to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Document set
UALR baseball investigation
The NCAA enforcement office ruled Dec. 4 that violations committed in the past year under former coach Scott Norwood that included recruiting during a dead period, conducting practices out of season, a volunteer coach receiving discounted housing and a non-coaching staff member performing coaching duties were secondary Level III violations. Secondary Level III violations are viewed as isolated or limited in nature, and provide no more than a minimal advantage in recruiting or competition.
The self-imposed sanctions that went into affect this fall include:
• The loss of 12 practices during the 2015 season.
• Suspension of the volunteer coach position for the 2015 season.
• The loss of one full-time assistant coach from 33 practices in the fall of 2014 and the fall of 2015.
• Educational sessions with the current coaching staff.
• A strengthened monitoring system.
The self-imposed sanctions followed a three-month investigation by The Compliance Group, a firm based in Salina, Kan., headed by former NCAA director of enforcement Chuck Smrt that UALR hired in June to look into potential violations that would then be turned over to the NCAA.
"I am satisfied with the thoroughness of the report from Mr. Smrt of The Compliance Group and pleased that the violations are considered minor and will require no further actions than the university has already taken," Chancellor Joel E. Anderson said in a statement released Wednesday. "I am confident that the report and the review by the NCAA officials will be reassuring to student-athletes, fans and supporters of Trojan athletics."
Coach Chris Curry, hired in July to replace Norwood, said he had faith in Anderson's belief that no further sanctions would come from the NCAA. Curry said he is pleased to know they didn't lose scholarships or postseason eligibility.
"They're very, very easily navigated," Curry said. "There will be times where we don't need to practice that extra day anyway. Obviously you want all the coaches present that you can, but sometimes, if you're running a good program, for one coach to be out it's not going to hurt the program."
The ruling brings a bit of closure for a baseball program that has been mired in drama since last February, when Smrt's report indicated that a rift had developed between Norwood and then-hitting coach Cole Gordon, who was hired in August 2013.
UALR won its first five games of the season but its batting average was low, which Smrt's report said caused Norwood to become more focused on the team's hitting.
"This appears to have caused Gordon to feel that his responsibilities were being infringed upon and possibly putting his job in jeopardy," the report said.
Gordon declined an interview with Smrt on advice from his legal counsel, but the report included interviews from 26 members of the UALR administration and baseball program.
The three-month season included a threatened team boycott of a March 23 game against South Alabama, an April 1 on-field brawl between UALR and the University of Central Arkansas, the resignation of Gordon on April 21, a UALR human resources investigation into Norwood's conduct stemming from complaints made by Gordon, Norwood's resignation June 9 and the release of a profanity-laced recording of Norwood berating his team.
Norwood told Smrt on July 24 that the voice on the tape was "not me." Some of the violations deemed secondary by the NCAA were sent to UALR from an email address identified as belonging to Don Hudson.
Smrt's report, which was sent to UALR on Sept. 18 and cost the school $20,506.80, detailed each of the following violations:
• An impermissible unofficial visit during a recruiting dead period.
• Six impermissible preseason practices.
• Impermissible discounted housing given to a volunteer coach.
• The director of baseball operations performing impermissible coaching activities.
Smrt's report said the impermissible practices occurred Jan. 13-15 and Jan. 19-21, and that Gordon showed a recruit UALR's campus on an unofficial visit April 17 during an NCAA-mandated dead period.
It also said that between February and June volunteer coach Drew Maus received a 50 percent discount on rent at the WestPark Meadows apartments near UALR's campus. The coach moved into the apartment in August 2013 after being hired as director of baseball operations before his title changed to volunteer assistant in February.
The violation occurred "due to his inability as a volunteer coach to receive benefits arranged by the university," according to Smrt's report.
In the fall of 2013, the director of baseball operations, a non-coaching position, was involved in "pitching and batting practice or other instruction on the field," Smrt said.
Smrt's report was unable to verify some information alleged by Hudson, similar to an investigation by UALR's department of resources that was completed June, such as Norwood drinking alcohol with players, academic fraud and payment to players.
Still pending is a lawsuit Gordon filed in October that claimed Norwood forced him to resign after Gordon complained of sexual harassment and emotional and physical abuse. UALR has declined to comment on the suit, citing pending litigation.
Richard Turner, UALR's senior associate athletic director for compliance, said the NCAA took into account that Norwood and Gordon are no longer employed at UALR when deciding penalties. The case did not go to the NCAA's Committee on Infractions.
"I'm glad it's behind us, but by no means does this allow us to sit back and make any less of an effort to monitor the program," Turner said. "There's never a guarantee, no matter how strong your commitment to compliance is.
"We've always had good people. We're better for having gone through this exercise."
Sports on 12/11/2014