The NCAA has handed down a three-year probation to University of Oregon (UO) for recruiting violations while Chip Kelly was the head coach, ESPN reported.

The sanctions did not include a bowl ban, though many believed it could. The NCAA Division I Infractions Committee found that Kelly and the school did not properly handle the situation.

The committee had been investigating UO since 2010 when suspicion of a $25,000 payment to a Houston-based recruiting company owned by Willie Lyles, Complete Scouting Services. Lyles was found to have had a connection to an Oregon recruit.

The Associated Press reported the infractions included Lyles giving cash and free lodging to a prospect, as well as improper calls and off-campus visits with prospects, their families and high school coaches.

The NCAA also found that Kelly was unaware that such practices were going on within his staff. However, the committee said it's the coach's responsibility to uphold the rules and make sure his staff does as well.

Oregon will lose one scholarship in each of the next three seasons and will be on probation for those three years. They have also had their total number of 56 official paid visits dropped to 37. During the probationary period, Oregon will not be allowed to use any recruiting services.

Kelly left Oregon following the 2012-2013 season to become the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. He released a statement through the Eagles organization Wednesday.

"Now that the NCAA has concluded their investigation and penalized the University of Oregon and its football program, I want to apologize to the University of Oregon, all of its current and former players and their fans," Kelly said. "I accept my share of responsibility for the actions that led to the penalties."

He also reiterated that he did not leave Oregon because of the pending investigation.

"As I have I stated before, the NCAA investigation and subsequent ruling had no impact on my decision to leave Oregon for Philadelphia," Kelly said. "I have also maintained throughout that I had every intention to cooperate with the NCAA's investigation, which I did."