UCLA Put On Three Years Probation

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

April 30, 1998 / 10:05 PM EDT / CBS Sportsline

The UCLA basketball program was put on three years' probation Thursday by the NCAA for violating recruiting regulations and giving improper benefits to athletes.

Former coach Jim Harrick was cited for unethical conduct for lying to school officials during an investigation. He was fired just before the 1996 season began and now is coaching Rhode Island.

In addition to the probation, UCLA was ordered to reduce official visits by recruits by six for the 1998-99 and the 1999-2000 academic years.

The violations took place from 1993-95.

The NCAA said members of the UCLA coaching staff gave entertainment and other benefits to the coach of a club team in Los Angeles whose players included potential recruits for the university.

The coach also was given complimentary tickets to UCLA games and a 1995 championship ring, the NCAA said.

Athletes were given tickets to Los Angeles Lakers' games and were allowed to receive excessive telephone calls at the athletic office.

Improper transportation and free meals were provided to the parents of athletes or to the athletes themselves, the NCAA said.

UCLA began an investigation of possible violations in October 1996 and reported the findings to the Pac-10 conference.

UCLA, the NCAA enforcement staff and Harrick agreed to a summary-disposition process in which all parties agreed the violations occurred.

Additional penalties were not imposed even though UCLA was placed on probation in May 1997 for three years for violations in the softball program. The NCAA said violations in the basketball program occurred before the softball violations.

In considering the penalty, the NCAA Committee On Infractions said it took into consideration UCLA limiting the club coach's tickets, revisions in the record-keeping process for telephone calls and requirements that coaches and others in the program attend educational programs on NCAA rules.

The NCAA also noted that a private letter of reprimand was issued by the Pac-10 and that the conference conducted a compliance review with emphasis on extra benefits during the 1997-98 school year.