The University of Iowa's athletics department has been charged with 15 minor NCAA and Big Ten Conference violations between August 10, 2012 and May 15, 2013, according to an audit conducted by Iowa's athletics compliance staff. The violations were revealed through a public records request.
The offenses, considered to be secondary level crimes, have been committed by coaches while recruiting potential student-athletes to the university. The coaches are alleged to have misused phone calls by calling too many high school students or calling them on the wrong date. They were also accused of making the school pay for their girlfriends' during official dinners or complimentary meals.
According to the NCAA, secondary breaches are isolated or accidental incidents that minimize the chances of recruiting a potential student-athlete. Major violations instead, lead to extensive recruiting benefits that call for significant penalties against the school.
The departments accused with secondary violations are charged with fines, vacation of records and scholarship reductions. If a prospective student-athlete is named in a case, he/she would be temporarily disqualified for recruitment at the institution.
Out of the 15 violations, the university is yet to hear verdict from the NCAA on eight of the cases. Six of the cases have been closed by the association. Some of the violations that are still awaiting a response include:
- On October 19, 2012, assistant men's gymnastics coach Ben Ketelsen invited his girlfriend to an official visit dinner with prospective student-athletes at Iowa River Power in Coralville. On December 8, 2012, assistant football coach Erik Campbell also made the same error.
"In both instances, the meals of the girlfriends were paid by the institution," according to a university document.
- Assistant rowing coach Beth Redfearn reportedly made two improper recruiting calls in July and August 2012 and three improper calls to recruit potential athletes for 2014.
- On Oct. 15, 2011, Luke Eustice, director of wrestling operations, sent a text message to a prospective student-athlete when he/she was on campus for an official visit. On October 26, 2011, Eustice sent another text message to the student.
Iowa State's total violations across all sports over a period of three years include 1,484 forbidden phone calls, most of which have been termed to be secondary in nature. About 79 of the violations are being assessed by the NCAA for punishment.
Generally, the university imposes its own penalties that are in accordance with NCAA and Big Ten rules. Both the organizations control the university-based penalties.