SYRACUSE, N.Y. — An NCAA appeals committee has upheld the nine-game suspension for Syracuse University men’s basketball head coach Jim Boeheim, but said the suspension can “begin with the team’s next game instead of the start of conference competition.”
That means Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins will lead the Orange (6-1) beginning with Saturday afternoon’s road game at longtime rival Georgetown (3-3).
The NCAA penalty originally had the suspension beginning at the start of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play on Dec. 30 at Pittsburgh.
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The appeals committee agreed with the infractions committee, which found Boeheim “failed to create an atmosphere of compliance within his program,” according to a news release from the NCAA.
The nine-game suspension is part of the penalties that the NCAA imposed on Syracuse in its March 6 announcement following its lengthy investigation.
Boeheim had submitted his appeal on March 20.
“Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed with the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee’s decision, and in particular, the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee giving us only two days to make this transition, when the appeal was argued weeks ago,” Boeheim said in reacting to the decision.
His reaction came in a statement issued through the Cincinnati, Ohio–based law firm Dinsmore & Shohl LLP.
“However, I have full faith in the ability of Coach Hopkins, my staff, and our seniors to lead the men’s basketball program through this difficult time, and I look forward to returning to the bench on January 9 against the University of North Carolina,” Boeheim added in the statement.
Syracuse University this past summer formally announced that Hopkins would replace Boeheim as head coach when the latter retires after the 2017-18 season.
The appeal
In his appeal, Boeheim said that he believes the infractions committee used the “wrong standard” to determine its finding that he did not create an atmosphere of compliance, according to the NCAA news release.
The coach argued that the infractions committee “abused its discretion” when it prescribed a nine-conference game suspension.
After an oral argument that Boeheim and members of the infractions committee attended, the appeals committee determined the infractions committee had “sufficient information” to support the finding on Boeheim’s “failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance.”
However, the appeals committee determined the stipulation that the suspension be served during conference play was a “departure from precedent.”
The appeals committee modified the penalty to begin with the team’s next game because Boeheim “was not directly involved in the underlying violations of the case,” according to the NCAA news release.
Thursday’s decision came eight days after the Nov. 25 announcement that the appeals committee reduced Syracuse’s scholarship penalty from 12 down to eight scholarships over a four-year period.
That’s two scholarships for each academic year, including the 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 academic years.
That same Nov. 25 announcement also indicated the vacation of wins remains part of the NCAA penalty.
More from Boeheim statement
The appeals committee “rightfully determined” the infractions committee had “abused its discretion” with the nine conference-game suspension based on the “alleged violation” of the head coach responsibility bylaw, Boeheim further said in his statement reacting to the decision.
“The NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee agreed that the NCAA Committee on Infractions ignored the fact that I had no involvement in any of the underlying violations in this case, and that I did not acquiesce in any of those underlying violations, in imposing its unprecedented suspension. The NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee also agreed that this case was in sharp contrast to cases where head coaches were directly involved in a number of underlying violations, including unethical conduct violations, recruiting violations, and violations of the NCAA legislation regarding extra benefits. At the same time, however, the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee decided to immediately impose a nine-game suspension, which is longer than any of the suspensions imposed in those cases,” the Orange coach said in the statement.
Syracuse University reaction
Syracuse is “pleased” that the appeals committee recognized that the initial sanction imposed on Boeheim was “too harsh,” Kevin Quinn, senior VP for public affairs, said in a statement the university released Thursday afternoon.
“Nevertheless, we supported coach Boeheim’s argument made during his hearing that any nine-game suspension would be too severe based on previous cases, and his lack of involvement in the underlying conduct, which the appeals committee recognized,” according to Quinn’s statement.
“As Chancellor Syverud said in March, coach Boeheim has been a mainstay at Syracuse University for more than one-third of our 144-year history. As we now move forward as a university, we join coach Boeheim in his continued focus on ensuring our student-athletes receive the best possible education and achieve their highest potential in the classroom and on the court,” he added.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
