UALR Chancellor Joel E. Anderson has called for an independent investigation into allegations made against the school's baseball program, according to a letter he sent to University of Arkansas System President Donald R. Bobbitt, the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees and the UALR Board of Visitors.
The request came in an email sent to Bobbitt and others on Saturday and forwarded to the Democrat-Gazette and other media outlets.
Anderson said "the allegations need to be reviewed and evaluated by a qualified, independent investigator outside of the university."
Anderson states that he has asked UA General Counsel Fred Harrison to "retain the services of an appropriate professional to review and investigate the allegations."
The latest allegations of wrongdoing by UALR baseball were made via email from an address identified as belonging to Don Hudson, which the school said provided it with an audio recording of what is believed to be former coach Scott Norwood on a nearly seven-minute tirade directed at his players.
Some of the other allegations include:
• Norwood assaulted former player Kaleb Jobe during a practice while Jobe was a freshman in 2010.
• Assistant coach Chris Marx, the current interim coach, scheduled practices in violation of NCAA rules.
• Players and volunteer coaches were given discounted housing rates.
• Coaches drinking alcohol with players.
The audio tape was posted by sports web site Deadspin.com on Friday, and in an phone interview that day, UALR's Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Richard Turner would not comment on whether the audio tape played any part in Norwood's recent resignation and whether the recording was indeed Norwood.
"[The NCAA] is aware of what the issues are," Turner said Friday. "We've discussed with them what the issues are, but we have not sent any information to them."
Turner also declined to say if he knew of a Don Hudson, citing the ongoing investigation into the program.
Anderson deferred all comment Friday to the athletic department.
Hudson, whose connection to the program is unclear, has sent numerous emails to Anderson, UALR Athletic Director Chris Peterson, Turner and Norwood with accusations.
"This person has made numerous serious allegations of misconduct on the part of university personnel," Anderson wrote to Bobbitt and others in the memo.
In his emails, Hudson claims to have 47 audio and video recordings of the baseball program. Anderson wrote to Bobbitt and others that he and Turner have requested Hudson provide them with those recordings, but "to date he has not done so nor has he accepted an invitation to meet with university personnel."
Hudson could not be reached for comment Sunday.
Anderson included email correspondence between Hudson and university personnel in the memo to Bobbit and others. UALR also released copies to the school's website.
In an email dated Friday, Hudson asked Peterson to release all UALR coaches who have ties to Norwood, which would include Marx and assistant Drew Maus.
"Let Marx and Maus resign and agree not to hire any coaches that worked for Norwood," he wrote. "Allow your baseball program to start over with a fresh start.
"If you can agree to this, I will go away and not leak any more information."
Peterson is on vacation until next week and has not yet publicly commented on the audio tape or the latest allegations.
Norwood notified UALR he was resigning June 7, a day after UALR acknowledges receiving a copy of the audio now on Deadspin. In UALR's June 9 news release announcing Norwood's resignation, Norwood stated that he resigned to pursue other opportunities.
Peterson said Norwood, contacted after the release came out, said Norwood had grown exhausted by the events of the season.
UALR was 25-29 this season, and on May 30, Norwood was cleared after an investigation by the UALR Department of Human Resources of any wrongdoing in allegations made by former assistant coach Cole Gordon, who resigned April 21. UALR self-reported in April two recruiting violations it said Gordon committed when he brought to players on an unofficial visit during a dead period.
In another dated June 11, Hudson tells Peterson he has 24 hours to make a public announcement regarding the allegations or "all allegations will be sent to the NCAA and media."
Anderson said in his memo that UALR will "proceed deliberately and thoroughly, but not under the 24-hour deadlines."
"My goal is to get to the bottom of these issues so that we can return our attention to a baseball program that concentrates on student athletes' academic and athletic development," Anderson wrote.
Sports on 06/16/2014