A former Auburn men's basketball associate head coach violated NCAA ethical conduct rules when he accepted $91,500 in bribes from a financial advisor in exchange for impermissibly influencing student-athletes and their families, according to a decision released by a Division I Committee on Infractions panel.
Additionally, the associate head coach provided inducements and benefits to two men's basketball student-athletes and their families. The men's basketball head coach failed to adequately monitor the associate head coach and did not promote an atmosphere of compliance.
"The associate head coach violated the trust of his student-athletes and their families. Rather than protect them, he intentionally brought opportunists into the Auburn men's basketball program and, using his influence, introduced them to the student-athletes and their families," the panel said in its decision.
The conduct at the heart of this case was related to a broader scheme that involved money and influence at the intersection of college and professional basketball. The scheme resulted in the arrest and prosecution of multiple individuals — including college basketball coaches — on conspiracy and bribery charges, and it led to significant NCAA reforms.
Compliance & Ethics