http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/29/sp...nn.html?src=mv
By LYNN ZINSER
Published: May 28, 2010
The University of Connecticut confirmed on Friday that it had received notice from the N.C.A.A. that its men’s basketball program committed eight major rules violations, and it said that two of Coach Jim Calhoun’s assistants have resigned because of them.
Jessica Hill/Associated Press
Coach Jim Calhoun at a news conference on Friday. Two of his coaches have resigned because of rules violations.
University officials announced in a news conference in Storrs, Conn., that they were cooperating with the investigation and that they would impose their own penalties on the program.
Most of the charges involve alleged impermissible contact with the recruit Nate Miles in 2006 and the former student manager Josh Nochimson, which was first reported by Yahoo.com last year. It also included improper contact with Miles by the assistant coaches Beau Archibald and Patrick Sellers, who resigned in the past week. Calhoun was cited by the N.C.A.A. for “failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance.”
Calhoun attended the news conference and said: “I’m going to be educated by certain matters if indeed we did make mistakes, and we’ll finalize that over the next 90 days and we’ll move forward. No one wants this to happen. Did I see it happening? No. But we’re going to handle it like we always handle things, up front, transparently, and do it the best way we can.”
The school has until Aug. 20 to respond to the N.C.A.A. but officials indicated they would move to impose penalties to avoid further punishment by the N.C.A.A.
“Let me be clear, the University of Connecticut is fully committed to N.C.A.A. rules compliance and takes this matter very seriously,” Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway said. “With regard to Calhoun, he personally has a longstanding history of demonstrating commitment to N.C.A.A. compliance, and we appreciate his continued commitment, as well as the full cooperation and support that he has provided throughout this process.”
Calhoun, 68, signed a five-year, $13 million contract extension last season despite the continuing investigation and health problems that prompted a leave of absence in January. According to The Hartford Courant, Calhoun’s contract contains a clause allowing the university to discipline him, “including suspension without pay or termination of employment for significant or repetitive violations."
The N.C.A.A. documents outlined Nochimson’s role in guiding Miles to Connecticut, including providing him lodging, transportation and meals. Nochimson, as a former student manager, is considered a representative of the university, so his conduct was impermissible according to N.C.A.A. rules. The school also released pages of documents detailing phone and text message contact between Miles and Connecticut coaches or representatives.
Miles never played a game for Connecticut, having been expelled by the university in October 2008 after he was charged with violating a restraining order in a case involving a woman who claimed he assaulted her.
