UW-Madison takes steps to ensure NCAA rules compliance

UW–Madison officials will impose significant penalties, discipline Athletics Department staff and change internal procedures to ensure future compliance with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulation of student athletes.

The measures announced Friday, April 20, by Chancellor John Wiley result from a comprehensive investigation of the Athletics Department that concludes the department may have inadvertently violated National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules prohibiting extra benefits to student-athletes. The benefits involve discounts and credit on shoes obtained from a retailer in Black Earth, Wis.

“UW-Madison makes compliance with NCAA rules a top priority,” says Chancellor John Wiley. “We cannot allow the Athletic Department’s record of accomplishments to be tarnished by our failure to comply with NCAA regulations.”

The university already has taken steps to more closely integrate athletics within the administration. And athletics officials are launching an innovative educational program designed to help athletes and staff better understand NCAA requirements.

University lawyers conducted the review. As a result of the compliance issues raised in the self-report, the university will take steps to improve internal procedures:

• Administration of the athletic department will be significantly restructured (see accompanying news release for details).
• The university is placing itself on a three-year probation, which will require it to report to NCAA annually on efforts to enforce rules compliance.

“All coaches and athletic department administrators are receiving a joint letter of reminder about the shared nature of our compliance responsibility, with the expectation that they pay greater attention to compliance issues,” Wiley adds. “Individuals will be held accountable for any and all future violations of NCAA or conference rules.”

University officials also will impose disciplinary measures and penalties, such as:

• The institution will voluntarily pay a $150,000 fine to the NCAA.
• Athletic Director Pat Richter and compliance director Tim Bald will receive letters of reprimand, and Richter’s salary will be frozen for a year.
• Letters of admonishment will be sent to coaches in 14 sports where current athletes were involved in violations. The coaches will be reminded of their responsibility to help ensure compliance with NCAA regulations.
• Five one-year athletic scholarships will be withdrawn over a three-year period and fewer coaches will be allowed to recruit off campus in four sports for the next two years.

“As director of the department, I take full responsibility for the violations we are now reporting, and I am pleased that we have already taken many of the necessary steps to prevent them from reoccurring,” says Richter.

History professor David McDonald, chair of the university’s Athletic Board who is assuming the role of special assistant in the athletic department, says he is impressed with the thoroughness of the university’s review.

“I am sure the NCAA compliance staff will appreciate the comprehensiveness of this review,” McDonald says. “As a result of this self-report, we have implemented appropriate corrective actions to address the issues that have been identified.”

Vice Chancellor for Legal and Executive Affairs Melany Newby says the university’s findings and self-imposed actions have been reported to the NCAA. “We will continue to cooperate fully with the NCAA as we work toward a resolution on this matter,” Newby says.

The university has moved quickly to address the issue of extra benefits received by student athletes, which is a violation of NCAA rules. A total of 157 current athletes were involved in violations and made repayments for receiving extra benefits.

“We are dealing with the compliance issue in a rigorous manner that will result in a stronger athletics department and more vigilant compliance program,” the chancellor says. “I commend the coaches, staff and student athletes of the university for their cooperation and understanding throughout this process.”