University Of Alabama Self-Reports Five Minor NCAA Violations

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama Athletic Department on Thursday self-reported five Level 3 rule violations committed over the last year to the NCAA, along with publishing each infraction and the corrective measures taken to get back in compliance.

The violations, which do not publicly name UA employees or students involved, were reported to the NCAA from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.

Here's a rundown of each violation, from oldest to most recent, appearing in the order of when they were reported to the NCAA.

1. Softball

Date reported: Sept. 25, 2020

• Submitted summary: "Softball coach posted an endorsement of an individual who instructs prospect level individuals on his Twitter account that was later used as a testimonial on the company’s website."
• Corrective measures: The university says a letter of admonishment was sent to the coach and the tweet ultimately deleted after the coach reached out to the company to have it removed. Rules education was also reportedly provided to softball staff, who were prohibited from making contact of any sort with all prospective student-athletes affiliated with Austin Wasserman or his company.

2. Women's Soccer

Date reported: Oct. 9, 2020

• Submitted summary: "On two separate occasions, a soccer coach responded to emails to a prospective student athlete prior to the first permissible date to send recruiting materials."
• Corrective measures: Rules education was reportedly provided to the UA women's soccer
  staff and a letter of admonishment issued. The entire soccer staff was also barred from providing additional recruiting materials to the prospective student-athlete involved in the violation for 60 days following the first permissible date for distributing recruiting materials.

3. Gymnastics

Date reported: May 20, 2021

• Submitted summary: "The gymnastics program posted asocial media graphic that inadvertently endorsed an event involving prospects."
• Corrective measures: The social media post was removed and rules education was provided to all sports staff, communications staff and the production staff. Additionally, the topic was also covered in the department compliance newsletter.

4. Women's Soccer

Date reported: June 7, 2021

• Submitted summary: "Soccer coach mistakenly responded to a women’s soccer prospective student- athlete‘s email prior to the first permissible date."
• Corrective measures: UA says rules education was provided to the soccer
  staff and a letter of admonishment issued. Also, the entire soccer staff is prohibited from providing additional recruiting materials to the prospective student-athlete involved in the violation for 60 days following the first permissible date for distributing recruiting materials.

5. Football

Date reported: June 11, 2021

• Submitted summary: "Student host provided an official visitor with transportation and entertainment outside of the 30-mile radius from campus."
• Corrective measures: The UA Athletic Department says the Student host and prospect repaid the travel and entertainment costs associated through an equal donation to charity, while education was also provided to the student host.

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