NCAA Investigation Report (PDF) Released Friday, Dec. 16POMONA, Calif. – On Friday afternoon, the NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions provided its final report finding of violations and penalties adopted and imposed upon Cal Poly Pomona.
For the women's basketball program, the NCAA's findings included: impermissible contact with prospective student-athletes, impermissible tryouts, impermissible use of student managers and impermissible benefits, as well as several institutional findings involving the maintenance of squad lists, notification of athletic grant-in-aid, and the timeliness of reporting alleged violations. In addition, the NCAA issued a single finding involving the men's basketball program: impermissible tryouts.
"The impeccable reputation of our athletics program is paramount," University President Dr. J. Michael Ortiz said. "The actions of our former women's basketball coaching staff are unacceptable and run in complete contradiction to how I expect our storied program to recruit student-athletes and conduct business. We are committed to advancing a culture of integrity both on and off the court."
As was stated in the April announcement of the notice of findings, the current women's basketball coaching staff was not involved or included in any of the violations.
The penalties combine those self-imposed by the institution and those issued by the NCAA. They include the following: a two-year probationary period in women's basketball (to be served from Dec. 16, 2011 through Dec. 15, 2013); reduction in the number of tryouts in men's and women's basketball programs to 10 each during the 2011-12 academic year; public reprimand and censure; elimination of official paid visits in the women's basketball program during probationary period; and publicizing the probation annually in the women's basketball media guides (or via web posting on the women's basketball site) as well in a general institutional alumni publication to be chosen by the institution with the assessment of the committee.
"Cal Poly Pomona self-reported the matter to the NCAA and fully cooperated with the NCAA throughout the duration of the investigative process," Cal Poly Pomona Vice President for Student Affairs Doug Freer said. "We believe that our institutional self-imposed penalties and on-going operational changes have clearly demonstrated our continued commitment to rules compliance."
Although the university is in agreement with a majority of the penalties, including the terms of the probation for women's basketball, Cal Poly Pomona is considering its right to appeal to the NCAA Division II Infractions Appeals Committee regarding certain additional penalties.
Based on the May 2010 self-report of recruiting violations by the former women's basketball staff, Cal Poly Pomona and the NCAA enforcement staff agreed to the process of summary disposition in resolving the matter.
Following the self-report, additional interviews by the NCAA staff and the NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions review, the NCAA provided Cal Poly Pomona Friday with the final report finding of violations and penalties.
"Throughout this process we have given our compliance systems an introspective review," Director of Athletics
Brian Swanson said. "We have made several operational changes that effectively strengthened our department and relationships throughout the campus. Although the process covered a long timeline, it was important that all aspects of our compliance systems were reviewed in full. These steps are important as we continue to move forward."
Competing at the Division II level, the Broncos sponsor 10 intercollegiate sports. Cal Poly Pomona has captured 14 national team titles, more than any other current D-II institution in the state of California. CPP is a full-time member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
