Oregon's athletic department was hit with a two-year probation for failure to comply to NCAA rules and regulations within their men's and women's basketball teams and also track and field. The allegations came to light a year ago with most being self-reported by the school.
The women's basketball program had a former strength and conditioning coach who actively participated in drills and on-court activities before, during and after practices. According to the NCAA, the only permissible on-court instruction allowed is by a countable coach, AKA an actual coach of the team.
Head women's basketball coach Kelly Graves took full responsibility, acknowledged the error and lapse of judgment and must serve a two-game suspension during this 2018-2019 season. They also have to reduce their number of countable coaches by one for 10 hours during the season and they must pay a fine of $5,000 plus one percent of their annual budget.
In the NCAA release it is stated that the NCAA appreciated Coach Grave's candor and his admission while accepting full responsibility. "But the head coach's disregard for the rules about impermissible coaching activity did not set the proper tone for compliance in his program."
In the grand scheme of things, this is not a big deal.The worst part about this is the bruise the Oregon athletic department will have for a week, it being used against them in recruiting for a short period of time and the fact that Kelly Graves has to sit out two games.
It is unclear if Graves and the athletic department has the opportunity to choose which games he will miss or if it will be the next two meetings versus Michigan State and South Dakota State.
A 10 hour reduction of a countable coach is hardly anything worth discussing and we can certainly all agree that $5,000 and one-percent of an annual budget are peanuts for the Oregon athletic department.
The Oregon women's basketball team is currently the No. 3 ranked team in the country and 7-0 on the season. They face Michigan State this Sunday, December 9 at 3:00pm ET. You can tune in on ESPN2.
