UM President Confirms Potential Tie To Federal Bribery Probe

CORAL GABLES, FL — Saying he was "alarmed and disappointed," the president of the University of Miami confirmed that federal investigators are looking into a potential tie to a member of the Hurricane's coaching staff and a student recruit. The acknowledgement followed the indictments of 10 people involved with men's college basketball across the country earlier this week on charges ranging from bribery to wire fraud. The University of Miami was not named in the indictments.

"While we are alarmed and disappointed, we are steadfast in our belief that we must also act with the highest level of integrity and commitment to the pursuit of truth," explained Julio Frenk in a message addressed to the University of Miami family.

Frenk pledged the university's "full and complete cooperation" with the U.S. Department of Justice probe as well as with the NCAA, which he said will be participating in any "relevant matters." (For more local news from the Miami area, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Miami Patch, or click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The federal investigation into the role of money in high school and college sports has ensnared assistant coaches at four of the nation's most prominent athletic programs. The coaches are among 10 people charged in an alleged scheme in which bribes were paid to send top players to certain colleges as well as steer them to managers and financial advisers.

"You can make millions off one kid," allegedly boasted Christian Dawkins, a sports agency recruiter, to an undercover agent, according to federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors described a "Coach Bribery Scheme," in which coaches allegedly took money to steer athletes to select financial advisers and business managers. But in other cases prosecutors described the "Company 1 Scheme," in which bribes were allegedly paid to student-athletes and their families in return for them committing to play at certain schools.

In addition to the named defendants, federal investigators also refer to a dozen college basketball players who were unnamed as well as two other universities that sources said included Miami and Louisville.

The coaches charged are Tony Bland of the University of Southern California, Lamont Evans of Oklahoma State, Chuck Person of Auburn and Emanuel Richardson of Arizona. In addition to the coaches and the head of global sports marketing at Adidas, financial advisers and managers are also named.

The allegations are contained in three separate complaints totaling more than 100 pages that include charges of bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy. The investigation has been going on since 2015. The FBI used wiretaps, undercover agents and cooperating witnesses as part of the investigation.

"The legal process and any NCAA joint review will likely take some time, so I urge patience for all who love our university," Frenk told his University of Miami family.

"We are a strong institution, and I can assure you that we will do what is right, even if doing so is hard," he added."

The investigation is continuing, and the FBI has set up a special tip phone number: 212-384-2135.

Patch editor Colin Miner contributed to this article.

(AP Photo/J Pat Carter)