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Public Reprimand Issued to University of California, Santa Barbara Men's Soccer Head Coach and Student-Athletes

For Immediate Release

Friday, August 19, 2011

Contact(s)

Cameron Schuh
Associate Director for Public and Media Relations
317/917-6117
 


INDIANAPOLIS--- A public reprimand and certain penalties have been issued for the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) head men’s soccer coach Tim Vom Steeg and student-athletes Machael David, Danny Barrera, Michael Tetteh, Waid Ibrahim and Tim Pontius for misconduct during the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship.

The NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee originally assessed the reprimands and other penalties, and UCSB appealed select portions of the decision by bringing those before the Administrative Committee of the NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet. The Administrative Committee reviewed relevant materials, submitted correspondence and statements made during the appeal hearing in the process of making its final decision.

“The men’s soccer committee was very disappointed with the unsportsmanlike actions displayed by the coach and student-athletes,” said John Diffley, chair of the Division I Men’s Soccer Committee and senior associate athletic director at St. John’s University (New York). “We believe these types of behaviors only serve to discredit the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship and trust that the appropriate actions will be taken to prevent these types of behaviors from occurring again in the future.”

Specifically, coach Vom Steeg was found to have engaged in misconduct by making postgame press conference comments critical of the championship, the officiating and the Division I Men’s Soccer Committee. In addition to this public reprimand, Vom Steeg was fined $600 for these comments.

Student-athlete Machael David was found to have engaged in misconduct following the match by verbally abusing a referee. The intensity and duration of Mr. David’s misconduct led the administrative committee to uphold a three-game NCAA postseason championship suspension as well as the withholding of his transportation expenses and championship per diem. The administrative committee ruled the suspension shall apply only to the next NCAA postseason opportunity, regardless of whether his institution plays one, two, three or more matches in connection with such opportunity.

Student-athletes Tim Pontius and Waid Ibrahim were found to have engaged in misconduct by verbally abusing an official. As a result, their transportation expenses and championship per diem were withheld.

Additionally, student-athletes Danny Barrera and Michael Tetteh were found to have engaged in misconduct; however UCSB did not appeal the decisions for those student-athletes. A three-game NCAA postseason suspension, regardless of what institution they may happen to represent, and the withholding of transportation expenses and championship per diems were issued for each of them.

The NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee is a committee comprised of representatives from NCAA member colleges, universities and athletic conferences. The Administrative Committee of the NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet is the NCAA’s independent appellate body for final ruling on championship related matters, including misconduct decisions.