South Carolina reports 16 NCAA violations in past two years
The University of South Carolina reported 16 NCAA or SEC violations between Jan. 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2021, according to documents obtained by The State through an open records request.
All 16 of the violations reported were classified as Level III violations — the lowest level possible — by the NCAA.
The NCAA describes level III violations as:
Isolated or limited in nature
Providing no more than a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage
Providing no more than a minimal impermissible benefit
The South Carolina volleyball program recorded three violations between the 2020 and 2021 calendar years — the most of any program included in the report. Football, women’s basketball, women’s golf and equestrian each recorded two violations per team. Men’s basketball, women’s soccer, beach volleyball and men’s and women’s swimming and diving each notched one violation a piece.
The names of athletes, recruits and coaches were not included in the documents released to The State.
Twelve of the 16 violations included in the report were recruiting-related. The NCAA instituted a recruiting dead period during the COVID-19 pandemic in which prospective student-athletes (PSAs) could not be hosted on campus for visits between March 13, 2020 and June 1, 2021.
Among the recruiting infractions in the report:
An assistant coach on the football team mentioned a recruit’s parent by name in social media post.
The women’s basketball team hosted a recruit who “participated in a gameday simulation during an official visit.”
A coaching staff member of the women’s golf team paid an airline baggage fee for the parents of a recruit on an official visit.
The following is the full list of violations included in the report and the subsequent penalties — when applicable — from the Southeastern Conference and NCAA:
South Carolina NCAA violations 2020-2021
Football
May 26, 2021: “Non-coaching staff member joined current student-athlete in voluntary conditioning activity”
Institutional action: Student-athlete countable athletically related activity (CARA) reduced at next available chance. Coach banned from all CARA involving student-athletes for seven days.
NCAA action: CARA reduced by 30 minutes
May 26, 2021: “Assistant coach mentioned (recruit’s) parent by name in social media post.”
Institutional action: Assistant coach barred from making calls to recruits for 14 days. USC prohibited from making contact by phone, mail or electronically with involved recruit and parents for 30 days.
Women’s Basketball
May 6, 2021: “Non-coaching staff member placed a call to a (recruit) prior to first permissible date during the COVID-19 Dead Period.”
Institutional action: Non-coaching staff member prohibited from sending correspondence to recruits for two weeks. Coaching staff prohibited from sending correspondence to the involved recruit. Rules education provided to the coaching staff.
SEC action: Non-coaching staff member prohibited from calling or receiving calls to/from recruits for seven days.
NCAA action: Entire staff prohibited from calling involved recruit for one week.
Oct. 22, 2021: “(Recruit) participated in a gameday simulation during an official visit.”
Institutional action: South Carolina barred from on- or off-campus contact with involved recruit for 90 days. Coaching staff barred from off-campus recruiting for seven days. Two-day reduction in in-person recruiting days. Two week ban on official and unofficial visits. Loss of one off-campus contact and one off-campus contact opportunity with involved recruit. Rules education provided to coaching staff.
Men’s Basketball
May 5, 2020: “Cost free parking was provided to 2 (recruits) during unofficial campus visit.”
Institutional action: Recruits required to pay value of parking to their charity of choice. Coaching staff banned from on- or off-campus recruiting for 30 days. Assistant coach banned from off-campus recruiting for seven consecutive days. Rules education provided to coaching staff.
Volleyball
Jan. 6, 2020: “Student manager performed duties while not properly enrolled at institution.”
Institutional action: Compliance office reviewed processes with necessary campus departments and provided rules education to Registrar.
May 4, 2020: “Publicity of (recruit) prior to signing (national letter of intent).”
Institutional action: Coaching staff prohibited from sending electronic correspondence to all recruits for one week. Rules education provided for the involved staff member.
May 3, 2021: “Issued athletically related financial aid for a period less than one academic year”
Institutional action: Compliance office revised processes for increasing athletic aid and added additional steps before issuing revised aid agreements.
Equestrian
Jan. 7, 2020: “Coaching staff member provided transportation to (student-athlete) participating in an outside competition.”
Institutional action: Rules education provided to coaching staff. Player donated value of transportation to charity.
Aug. 21, 2021: “Coaching staff member placed a telephone call prior to the first permissible date for telephone calls.”
Institutional action: Coaching staff banned from correspondence with recruits for two weeks. Coaching staff prohibited from corresponding with involved recruit for 30 days. Assistant coach involved barred from off-campus recruiting for seven days. Rules education provided to coaching staff.
SEC action: Coaching staff members prohibited from calling or receiving calls from recruits for seven days. Calls to the specific recruit banned for 30 days.
Women’s Golf
May 4, 2020: “Coaching staff member paid airline baggage fee for (recruit’s) parents on an official visit.”
Institutional action: Recruit donated value of baggage fee to charity. Rules education provided to the coaching staff.
Dec. 11, 2020: “Publicity of (recruit) prior to signing (national letter of intent).”
Institutional action: “Staff barred from telephone contact with recruits for 14 days. Rules education provided to coaching staff.”
SEC action: Staff banned from communication with involved recruit for 30 days.
Women’s Soccer
Dec. 2, 2020: “Self guided tour was provided to several (recruits) during COVID Dead Period.”
Institutional action: Contact with recruits involved docked by one contact opportunity. Staff banned from telephone contact with involved recruits for two weeks. No unofficial or official visits for two weeks.
Beach Volleyball
Dec. 8, 2021: “Publicity of (recruit) prior to signing (national letter of intent).”
Institutional action: Coaching staff barred from contacting all recruits for one week. USC prohibited from contacting involved recruit for 30 days. Rules education provided.
Men’s swimming and diving
July 21, 2021: “Impermissible off-campus contact with underage (recruit).”
Institutional action: Assistant coaches barred from off-campus recruiting for 30 days. Rules education provided to staff.
SEC action: Staff barred form in-person and off-campus contact with involved recruit until 30 days passed permissible date for in-person off-campus contact. Staff limited to just one more additional contact with involved recruit.
Women’s swimming and diving
Dec. 8, 2021: “(Recruit) practiced with local sports club prior to meeting the 50-mile radius residency requirement.”
Institutional action: Compliance office retains names of recruits involved with the local club and provide rule education to staff. If involved recruits involved enroll at USC, they’d be withheld from CARA for the hours they participated in impermissibly at the local club.
