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The NCAA has imposed a charge of unethical conduct against former Connecticut men's basketball coach, Kevin Ollie, and other offenses that could result in a long trial sentence, six months after the dismissal from the university for valid reasons.
The most serious complaint, according to the original statement of allegations made to Ollie and the school Friday that was obtained by ESPN, is an accusation of level I deontology carried by Ollie, according to the NCAA. Ray Allen, Rudy Gay, San Antonio Spurs goaltender, and a rookie of choice.
The NCAA also said that Ollie had falsely denied having knowledge of the players' training with professional coach and friend Derek Hamilton.
According to the first notice of allegations, Ollie was charged with multiple offenses (induced recruitment benefits, exceeding practice times, failure to comply with a climate of compliance, lack of monitoring of players' external training), who would all be liable for a breach of the coaches' liability. .
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Allegations of violations of the NCAA. Threats of prosecution. A $ 10 million buyout. The once-promising union of Kevin Ollie and UConn has turned into a bitter divorce from which neither party will come out unscathed.
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The UConn inquiry into the term of former coach Kevin Ollie concluded that he had breached several NCAA rules, thus justifying his termination of employment without receiving the 10 millions of dollars remaining on his contract.
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Ollie is specifically accused of having organized the phone calls of a five-star rookie with Allen and Gay; have inadmissible contacts with a recruit; provide forbidden meals to a pair of recruits during unofficial visits; shoot with a recruit during an unofficial visit; failing to monitor Hamilton, who, according to the NCAA, would have broken the rules by training UConn players on campus and near his home in Atlanta; and give Hamilton tickets to a UConn-South Florida football game, a violation of the NCAA because Hamilton's son was a hope recruited at the time, according to the NCAA.
The university was not cited as guilty in the notice of allegation.
"The NCAA's opinion regarding the allegations is part of a process we expected," said the university in a statement. "We believe that his allegations are consistent with our initial internal findings and our joint investigation with the enforcement staff, and we maintain that the measures we have taken to date remain appropriate and consistent. with the type, nature and seriousness of the alleged allegations.
"While the allegations are disappointing for the university, our student-athletes and coaches, and certainly the entire UConn nation, we firmly believe that we have made difficult but appropriate decisions to protect accountability, integrity and success. of our sport program now and in the future. "
The letter of dismissal from Connecticut Sports Director David Benedict, sent to Ollie in March, explained "the inability to report instances of non-compliance, intentional participation in an on-campus activity with a student-athlete interests in recruitment purposes. "
Ollie has repeatedly denied having deliberately committed NCAA violations during his stay at UConn, where he won a national championship in 2014. He is still waiting for a refereeing hearing with the university while he is still out. he continues to fight for Contract.
"It is not surprising that the allegations opinion mimics the position of the University of Connecticut in arbitration because there is every reason to believe that the NCAA would support his member, "said Jacques Parenteau, Ollie's lawyer. "However, an allegation proves nothing, but an allegation.When the time comes to prove what really happened, we will show that Coach Ollie did nothing to justify UConn's failure to pay by contract."
A source close to the investigation said several witnesses had refuted the NCAA's claims that a call between Allen and a recruit had been arranged in advance.
Hamilton said the NCAA was lying about his involvement in the team. He admitted to having worked with two players on campus, but said that these players had exhausted their eligibility. He also admitted to having trained three players in Atlanta two years ago at no cost, a violation of the NCAA rules. Hamilton said that he had already had a relationship with one of the players, who had organized the training sessions in Atlanta.
But he said he thought he was helping the three players save money by hosting them and providing them with meals during their trip, without committing NCAA violations that would hurt a long-time friend. , Ollie. Hamilton also said that Ollie did not know he was coaching the three players because he was away on vacation with his family at the time. He also talked to the players' parents before their trip, he said.
Hamilton said that he had never talked to Ollie about workouts. He said the players did not want their coaches to know that they were going to Atlanta to have fun and train a few days a week.
"I did not feel like I had to say anything to Kevin because these [are] adult men and the summer is approaching, "said Hamilton when asked why he had not contacted Ollie.
He also stated that his son had not been recruited by South Florida when Ollie had given them tickets to attend the football match between UConn and South Florida.
Former assistant Glen Miller, the most critical witness for the NCAA and Connecticut, told investigators that he had committed violations prior to Miller's dismissal in 2017. Danny Griffin, former director of player development and friend of Ollie, violated the rules of his work, a non-recruiting role, making contact with a prospect during a high school match in 2014 with Ollie present.
Griffin, however, told ESPN.com that he was not at this high school game because his sister was dying of cancer at the time, so he was with her at the hospital. He said that Miller, who told investigators that the mother of a player had informed his wife that Ollie had arranged payments for his family, had a vendetta against Ollie because the coach was there. had "ruined".
Griffin said that he would prove as much as the process would unfold.
"Well, he was fired," Griffin said. "If he does not get fired, the ball continues to roll until all the staff are finally released." I received text messages from Glen asking me to recruit, ask me for information, to ask me for phone numbers.It is the one that needs to be investigated.I have a correspondence from him that i am willing to show. "
The NCAA recently adopted the recommendations of the Commission on College Basketball, which included a more comprehensive application process that will add more independent voices to panels that make key decisions about violation. But the group led by Condoleezza Rice has also recommended, and the NCAA has adopted, an enforcement model that makes the lifetime ban a possible outcome for coaches who have broken the rules or refused to cooperate fully to an inquiry.
Ollie has 90 days to respond before the process continues. The Offenses Committee will make the final declaration regarding allegations and sanctions after gathering information from UConn officials, law enforcement members and Ollie. Ollie can also appeal the IOC decision.
It is also important to note that the NCAA process is distinct from Ollie's adjudication process as it pursues the eight-figure amount that it believes is owed by the university. This arbitration hearing could begin in the coming months.
"Coach Kevin Ollie is reputed to have restored the integrity of the UConn men's basketball program and promoted a climate of NCAA compliance after a period of time including the suspension of the tournament team. "said Parenteau. "Under Olivier's leadership, the men's basketball program has been among the best in the country in terms of school results. A complete recovery.
Coach Ollie strongly disagrees with the details of the allegations made in the NCAA's opinion and is disappointed that the NCAA has chosen to align with the University of Connecticut in the US. Arbitration Pending The Ollie coach denies any behavior likely to constitute a breach of NCAA rules and regulations and looks forward to defending himself and restoring his reputation. "
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