MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – A new report from Rivals.com is for the first time indicating that University of Miami staff knew of Ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro and warned the players and coaches about him.

According to CaneSport.com, former UM head coach Randy Shannon “threatened his coaching staff with firings if they ever dealt with Shapiro and warned his players about Shapiro multiple times in team meetings during his four-year coaching tenure.”

CaneSport.com reported that Shannon had “spies” in South Florida that “warned him that Shapiro was getting into problems throughout South Florida and was a booster that he needed to keep away from his players.”

If true, it blows a large hole in the University’s efforts to say they didn’t know exactly what Shapiro was doing. It also could pose large problems for former athletic director Kirby Hocutt.

According to the CaneSport.com report, Hocutt had to fundraise from Shapiro while also dealing with Shapiro’s perceived lack of respect because Shannon wouldn’t speak to the convicted Ponzi schemer.

Former UM athletic director Paul Dee said earlier this week that Shapiro was “a very interested fan.” Dee said the former booster gave no indications that he was showering players with gifts and services, according to the Palm Beach Post.