INDIANAPOLIS—The NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee has upheld findings of violations and the associated penalty for the former head men’s tennis coach at Texas Christian University.

In February 2008, the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions issued an infractions report that included findings of violations in the men’s tennis program for TCU.  The case centered on violations of NCAA rules regarding impermissible telephone contacts and a failure to monitor.

The Committee on Infractions found that the former head coach and members of the men’s tennis staff made 105 impermissible telephone calls to 24 prospective student-athletes during the four-year period from the summer of 2002 through the spring of 2006.

In his appeal, the former head coach asserted that the findings of violations should be set aside as contrary to the evidence, and that any violations should be classified and treated as secondary violations.

In affirming the findings of violations and penalties, the Infractions Appeals Committee stated in its report that it found “no basis on which to conclude that the findings of violation should be set aside as contrary to the evidence.” The Infractions Appeals Committee also stated that it did not find “any basis on which to conclude that the Committee on Infractions erred in determining that the violations found were major rather than secondary.”

In considering the former head coach’s appeal, the Infractions Appeals Committee reviewed the notice of appeal; the transcript of the university’s Committee on Infractions hearing; Attachment No. 1 to the enforcement case summary and the submissions by the former head coach and the Committee on Infractions.

In reviewing the case, the Infractions Appeals Committee may overturn a determination of fact or finding of violation only if the Committee on Infractions’ finding is contrary to the evidence presented; the facts found by the committee do not constitute a violation of NCAA rules; or a procedural error affected the reliability of information that was used to support the findings.

The members of the Infractions Appeals Committee who heard this case were: Christopher L. Griffin, Foley & Lardner LLP, chair; Susan Cross Lipnickey, Miami University (Ohio); Noel M. Ragsdale, University of Southern California; David Williams II, Vanderbilt University; and Allan A. Ryan Jr., Harvard University.

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