NCAA Committee on Infractions Decision (.pdf)

In September 2019, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Committee on Infractions found the Georgia Institute of Technology men’s basketball program responsible for committing violations of NCAA legislation.

The violations include the facilitation of an impermissible recruiting contact between a prospective student-athlete and a representative of the institution’s athletic interests during the prospective student-athlete’s official paid visit. Additionally, that the former men’s basketball assistant coach violated the NCAA principles of ethical conduct and responsibility to cooperate when he provided false or misleading information to the institution and/or NCAA enforcement staff and attempted to influence a men’s basketball student-athlete involved in the incident to provide false or misleading information to the institution and/or NCAA enforcement staff. Finally, an individual determined by the NCAA to be a representative of the Institute’s athletics interests provided and/or arranged for impermissible benefits to two Georgia Tech men’s basketball student-athletes and a men’s basketball student-athlete from another institution, and that additionally, the individual impermissibly contacted the men’s basketball student-athlete from another institution via text messages and phone calls.

Penalties levied by the NCAA include:

• Four years of probation from Sept. 26, 2019 through Sept. 25, 2023;
• A fine of two percent of the men’s basketball budget (in addition to a self-imposed $5,000 fine);
• Recruiting restrictions during each year of probation, including an eight-week ban on unofficial visits, a three-visit reduction from the permissible number of official visits, an eight-week ban on recruiting communications and a 19-day reduction on number of recruiting-person days (in addition to a self-imposed eight-visit reduction from the permissible number of official visits from 2017-18 through 2019-20);
• Vacation of team and individual records from the beginning of the 2016-17 season through November 19, 2017 (a total vacation of 21 wins);
• Disassociation with former Georgia Tech men’s basketball student-athlete involved in the first violation for a period of three years.
• A postseason ban for the 2019-20 season*;
• A scholarship reduction of seven percent (or one grant-in-aid) during each year of probation (specifically, GT men’s basketball is limited to no more than 12 men’s basketball scholarships during the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years)*;
• Prohibition from scheduling official visits in conjunction with home men’s basketball competitions during the first two years of probation*;

* penalties appealed by Georgia Tech; appealed penalties are stayed during the appeals process

Georgia Tech also self-imposed employment separation and a three-year disassociation from the assistant coach involved in the first two violations, and a permanent disassociation from the individual involved in the third violation.

Additionally, Georgia Tech self-imposed corrective measures, including enhanced rules education, enhanced head coach review of activities during and following official visits, reviews of official travel parties and trip expenses, a travel letter for all donors participating in away travel with official travel parties, and review of travel during vacation periods, including any travel and related expense sources.

The Institute remains committed to operating all of its athletics programs within the letter and spirit of NCAA, ACC and Institute rules and regulations.