NCAA Levies Sanctions Against Hurricanes’ Football, Basketball Programs

By David Levin
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Updated: October 22, 2013

After months of waiting for a decision, the NCAA has finally levied sanctions on the University of Miami for infractions incurred by both its football and Men’s basketball programs.

The sanctions were mostly covered in the loss of scholarships to both athletic programs over the next three seasons.

In its “official release” the NCAA determined that the school “lacked institutional control” when it allowed a major booster (Nevin Shapiro) to have a major impact of both programs over the course of a decade, the findings stated.

As reported in the document…

“Many of Miami’s violations were undetected by the university over a 10-year period, and they centered on a booster, [Shapiro], entertaining prospects and student-athletes at his home, on his yacht and in various restaurants and clubs. Approximately 30 student-athletes were involved with the booster. Several football coaches, three men’s basketball coaches and two athletics department staff members were also involved in the case. These staff members had a poor understanding of NCAA rules or felt comfortable breaking them. Furthermore, some of the coaches provided false information during the enforcement staff and university’s investigation.”

The report makes the claim the the University was in contact with the NCAA as far back as 2009 when it notified the governing body of its intention of an internal investigation of its athletic program for violations school officials had been committed by Shapiro and coaches and staff members.

In March of 2010, the University submits its own findings, which show many instances of improper phone and text message rules violations to the NCAA, thus opening itself up to further investigation.

It was also determined by the investigation and subsequent report that “The former head men’s basketball coach, Frank Haith, failed to meet his responsibilities as a head coach when he did not monitor the activities of his assistant coaches, and attempted to cover up the booster’s threats to disclose incriminating information, according to the committee. Additionally, two assistant football coaches — Clint Hurtt and Aubrey Hill — and one assistant men’s basketball coach — Jorge Fernandez — did not follow NCAA ethical conduct rules.”

The University’s insistence in being proactive in the case helped ease the punishment levied by the NCAA. As part of its ruling, “Additional penalties in this case include a three-year probation period; a reduction in the number of football and men’s basketball scholarships; recruiting restrictions; a five-game suspension for Haith (now at Missouri); and two-year show-cause orders for Hurtt, Hill and Fernandez.”

Shapiro, who is at the center of this investigation, is serving a 20 year sentence for a Ponzi scheme he concocted through his company, Capitol Investments, USA, where he he pled guilty to one count of securities fraud and one count of money laundering. In 2011, he was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and ordered to make $82,657,362.29 in restitution.and is scheduled for release in October, 2027.

As a result of the NCAA’s findings…

Penalties in this case include:

• Public reprimand and censure.

• Three years of probation from Oct. 22, 2013, through Oct. 21, 2016.

Former assistant football coach Clint Hurtt penalties:

• A two-year show-cause order from Oct. 22, 2013 through Oct. 21, 2015. The public report contains further details.

• The committee also adopted penalties imposed by the coach’s current employing university, which are detailed in the public report.

Former assistant football coach Aubrey Hill penalties:

• A two-year show-cause order from Oct. 22, 2013, through Oct. 21, 2015. The public report contains further details.

Former head men’s basketball coach Frank Haith penalties:

• A suspension for the first five regular-season games of the 2013-14 season.

• Attendance at one NCAA Regional Rules seminar at the conclusion of the 2013-14 academic year.

Former assistant men’s basketball coach Jorge Fernandez penalties:

• A two-year show-cause order from Oct. 22, 2013, through Oct. 21, 2015. The public report contains further details.

Football program penalties:

• Reduction of football scholarship by a combined total of nine during the 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.

• Miami may only provide a prospect on unofficial visits complimentary tickets for one home game during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

Self-imposed by the university:

• Two-year bowl ban following the 2011 and 2012 seasons, including the 2012 ACC Championship Game.

• Reduction of official paid visits for 2012-13 by 20 percent to a total of 36 visits.

• Reduction of fall evaluations in 2012-13 by six (from 42 to 36).

• Reduction of available contact days during the 2012-13 contact period by 20 percent.

Men’s basketball program penalties

• Reduction in the number of men’s basketball scholarships by one during the each of the 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.

Additional penalties:

• For all sports, any staff member who sends an impermissible text to a prospect will be fined a minimum of $100 per message, and coaches will be suspended from all recruiting activities for seven days.

Further penalties resulting from impermissible texts and phone calls are detailed in the public report.