NCAA issues Notice of Allegations regarding UH men’s basketball program
News Release from UH January 31, 2015
The University of Hawaiʻi has received the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Notice of Allegations regarding the men’s basketball program. The report is being made available in accordance with Hawaiʻi’s public records law and the public interest.
“We take these allegations very seriously,” said UH Mānoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman. “As a member of the NCAA, we are committed to following the rules and to maintaining the highest standards in all of our programs.”
According to the NCAA process, the next step is that UH and named individuals have up to 90 days to respond. Then the NCAA enforcement staff has up to 60 days to reply. We expect a hearing before the Committee on Infractions to be held in approximately six months.
UH cannot comment on the substance of the allegations because it is an ongoing NCAA matter, as required by the NCAA bylaws on confidentiality. UH has fully cooperated with the NCAA and will continue to do so.
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UH chancellor: Alleged violations 'disturbing'
SA: ...Of the seven violations alleged, three were from Level I, the most severe category, and four from Level II. The NCAA classifies violations on four levels.
They included impermissible tryouts, improper benefits, dishonest conduct and using operations people as coaches.
"We fully cooperated with the NCAA investigation," UH athletic director Ben Jay said. "I can't comment on the document itself because we're still under the NCAA bylaws regarding confidentiality in an NCAA matter."
In the allegations, former head coach Gib Arnold was charged with "obstructing an investigation or attempting to conceal the violations." In addition, the NCAA claimed "Arnold knowingly influenced the then directors of operations to conceal their participation in coaching, instructional and/or recruiting activities from the media and the institution in order to conceal the violations.
"Arnold knowingly influenced then men's basketball staff members to fabricate a story to report to the institution that the on-campus evaluation conducted between April 19 and 20, 2013, was neither arranged nor observed by the men's basketball staff," according to the document.
Lastly, "Arnold knowingly influenced at least four then men's basketball student-athletes to refrain from reporting" issues.
The NCAA also cited former assistant coach Brandyn Akana for having "knowingly provided a then men's basketball student-athlete with an Apple iPad. Additionally, Akana knowingly altered an admissions document of a then men's basketball prospect and submitted the document to the institution to facilitate the prospect's admission."
In addition, the NCAA claimed "Akana knowingly provided the institution and NCAA enforcement staff with false or misleading information when he denied providing the then student-athlete with an iPad despite the factual evidence."
Possible sanctions could include a postseason ban, loss of scholarships and/or practice time....
read ... NCAA Violations