University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Athletics Statement Regarding NCAA Infractions Appeal
November 17, 2021 | Athletics Department
AMHERST, Mass. – The NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee (IAC) has upheld the penalties prescribed by the NCAA Committee on Infractions (COI) on October 16, 2020 regarding the University's NCAA infractions case involving UMass' men's basketball and tennis programs for non-competitive, financial aid infractions over a three-year period from 2014 to 2017.
"I am profoundly disappointed with the outcome of our case and the manner in which we arrived at the final decision handed down by the IAC today," said Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford. "As a practitioner who believes deeply in our collegiate model and the ideals of fair play, it is unfathomable to me that these committees vacated a tennis championship because two student-athletes unknowingly received $252 beyond the cost of attendance allowable amount, for instance. What message does it send that a member institution in good standing can self-report inadvertent administrative violations -- that provided no recruiting or competitive advantage -- and work closely in partnership with the NCAA enforcement staff only to arrive at an outcome that hurts our student-athletes and staff who did nothing wrong? It's an overreach of epic proportion," Bamford added.
"The COI abused its discretion by not removing the vacation of records as a form of penalty and the IAC was complicit in its follow-up decision," Bamford continued. "We are in the golden age of student-athlete rights but throughout this process the mechanics of NCAA enforcement has revealed that this important movement is not fully supported by NCAA staff or members of its own association. We say we are here for our students but time and again do things that are incongruent. It's shameful."
After initially learning of potential violations in the spring of 2017, UMass was proactive in engaging the NCAA and outside counsel and worked collaboratively with the parties to thoroughly assess athletics compliance efforts and remedial measures at the university. In the interest of transparency and to ensure the Department of Athletics was operating within the expectations of NCAA membership, the review ultimately encompassed compliance and financial aid operations for all 21 sport programs during a five-year period (2013-18). The financial aid infractions discovered during the review began in 2014 under UMass athletic department administration, basketball and tennis coaching staffs who are no longer at the institution. UMass submitted a written appeal in January of 2021 and the appeal was heard by the IAC on June 30.
"We take pride in conducting our athletics program with honesty and integrity," said Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy. "Accordingly, I am grateful for our athletic department's commitment to NCAA compliance which resulted in our identifying and reporting violations to the NCAA enforcement staff. As we conclude this unfortunate matter, I remain dissatisfied by the IAC's decision to uphold the harsh penalties provided by the COI," Subbaswamy added.
"I always believed we would receive fair consideration given the facts of the case, our self-reporting and willingness to cooperate throughout the process. The NCAA's inconsistent approach to the application of penalties is clearly a reflection of a broken infractions model which has now negatively impacted innocent student-athlete alumni/ae who otherwise had a remarkable experience at our university," Subbaswamy concluded.
The NCAA COI acknowledged in its report that there were 13 unintentional and inadvertent violations in the issuance of financial aid above the cost of attendance. The administrative errors affected 12 student-athletes in total – 10 in men's basketball and two in women's tennis – over a three-year period from 2014 to 2017. The 13 financial aid overages over the three-years totaled just over $9,000. At the time of the infractions, UMass administrators, coaching staff and student-athletes were not aware of the violations.
The imposed penalties that have been upheld include a two-year probation and vacation of records in the sports of men's basketball and tennis, in which student-athletes who were deemed ineligible competed. The University accepted the initial COI penalties of a public reprimand and censure through the release of the public infractions decision. UMass also paid a $5,000 self-imposed fine.
"I am profoundly disappointed with the outcome of our case and the manner in which we arrived at the final decision handed down by the IAC today," said Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford. "As a practitioner who believes deeply in our collegiate model and the ideals of fair play, it is unfathomable to me that these committees vacated a tennis championship because two student-athletes unknowingly received $252 beyond the cost of attendance allowable amount, for instance. What message does it send that a member institution in good standing can self-report inadvertent administrative violations -- that provided no recruiting or competitive advantage -- and work closely in partnership with the NCAA enforcement staff only to arrive at an outcome that hurts our student-athletes and staff who did nothing wrong? It's an overreach of epic proportion," Bamford added.
"The COI abused its discretion by not removing the vacation of records as a form of penalty and the IAC was complicit in its follow-up decision," Bamford continued. "We are in the golden age of student-athlete rights but throughout this process the mechanics of NCAA enforcement has revealed that this important movement is not fully supported by NCAA staff or members of its own association. We say we are here for our students but time and again do things that are incongruent. It's shameful."
After initially learning of potential violations in the spring of 2017, UMass was proactive in engaging the NCAA and outside counsel and worked collaboratively with the parties to thoroughly assess athletics compliance efforts and remedial measures at the university. In the interest of transparency and to ensure the Department of Athletics was operating within the expectations of NCAA membership, the review ultimately encompassed compliance and financial aid operations for all 21 sport programs during a five-year period (2013-18). The financial aid infractions discovered during the review began in 2014 under UMass athletic department administration, basketball and tennis coaching staffs who are no longer at the institution. UMass submitted a written appeal in January of 2021 and the appeal was heard by the IAC on June 30.
"We take pride in conducting our athletics program with honesty and integrity," said Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy. "Accordingly, I am grateful for our athletic department's commitment to NCAA compliance which resulted in our identifying and reporting violations to the NCAA enforcement staff. As we conclude this unfortunate matter, I remain dissatisfied by the IAC's decision to uphold the harsh penalties provided by the COI," Subbaswamy added.
"I always believed we would receive fair consideration given the facts of the case, our self-reporting and willingness to cooperate throughout the process. The NCAA's inconsistent approach to the application of penalties is clearly a reflection of a broken infractions model which has now negatively impacted innocent student-athlete alumni/ae who otherwise had a remarkable experience at our university," Subbaswamy concluded.
The NCAA COI acknowledged in its report that there were 13 unintentional and inadvertent violations in the issuance of financial aid above the cost of attendance. The administrative errors affected 12 student-athletes in total – 10 in men's basketball and two in women's tennis – over a three-year period from 2014 to 2017. The 13 financial aid overages over the three-years totaled just over $9,000. At the time of the infractions, UMass administrators, coaching staff and student-athletes were not aware of the violations.
The imposed penalties that have been upheld include a two-year probation and vacation of records in the sports of men's basketball and tennis, in which student-athletes who were deemed ineligible competed. The University accepted the initial COI penalties of a public reprimand and censure through the release of the public infractions decision. UMass also paid a $5,000 self-imposed fine.
UMass WBB | Broadcast Highlights vs Western Michigan | 12.31.25
Friday, January 02
UMass WBB | Post Game Press Conference vs. Western Michigan | 12.31.25
Wednesday, December 31
UMass MBB | Coach Frank Martin Post Game Press Conference vs. UMass Boston | 12.22.25
Monday, December 22
UMass MBB | Broadcast Highlights vs. UMass Boston | 12.22.25
Monday, December 22