Former UM Coaches Hit With Penalties
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Former University of Miami head basketball coach, currently the head coach at the University of Missouri, Frank Haith was one of four coaches hit with penalties Tuesday as a result of the NCAA's investigation of the University of Miami.
While Haith was the head basketball coach at UM, the NCAA found multiple rules violations committed by Haith and at least one staffer.
In the NCAA's Notice of Allegations to Missouri Head Basketball Coach Haith, the NCAA alleged that Haith was aware of a scheme of Shapiro's and that the coach "failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the men's basketball program."
Specifically, the NCAA laid out the following event to justify its charge: "Haith was aware that Nevin Shapiro, a representative of the institution's athletics interests, threatened that unless Jake Morton, then assistant men's basketball coach, or Haith provided money to Shapiro, Shapiro would make public a claim that Shapiro provided money to assist in the recruitment of a men's basketball prospective student-athlete."
Read The NCAA's Allegations Against Haith
The NCAA's findings released Tuesday said Haith and an assistant coach provided Shapiro $10,000 after he threatened to expose previous improper contact with with high school recruits and amateur coaches.
Shapiro had initially demanded Haith return a $50,000 donation, but the Missouri coach refused. The unidentified assistant loaned Shapiro $7,000, which he later repaid. The NCAA also found that Haith helped his assistant pay off Shapiro's mother.
As a result, Haith was suspended for the first five games of Missouri's 2013-2014 season. Haith will be out for games against: Southeastern Louisiana, Southern Illinois, Hawaii, Gardner-Webb, and IUPUI.
Haith released a statement Tuesday afternoon saying in part: "While I strongly disagree with today's report, and the inference on how the program was run at the University of Miami, as head basketball coach during that period, I accept responsibility for all actions in and around that program. This has been an excruciating ordeal for my family. An appeal, which would likely drag further into the season, would only prolong what has already been a lengthy and trying period of time for our student-athletes, the University of Missouri and our fans, and it's time for closure. "
Coaches impacted by the NCAA's investigation weren't limited to the men's basketball program. Two former assistant football coaches were also implicated by the NCAA and hit with stiff penalties.
Clint Hurtt, who is currently on the staff at the University of Louisville, was said to have received and provided impermissible benefits while an assistant coach with the Hurricanes. The NCAA said Hurtt and another former coach provided false and misleading information to NCAA investigators.
Louisville said Tuesday afternoon that Hurtt would remain on staff at Louisville, despite his show-cause penalty and his guilt in the UM scandal. Louisville said his salary would be frozen for two years, would receive no bonuses, and the school would have zero tolerance on any violations, including lesser secondary violations.
Former assistant Aubrey Hill was also hit with a show-cause penalty, but he's currently not working in the NCAA.
