NCAA Decision: Central State University (Ohio) lacked institutional control

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Central State University lacked institutional control when it did not have the proper systems in place to detect and prevent violations, according to a decision issued by the Division II Committee on Infractions. The lack of control resulted in the university’s failure to properly certify 106 student-athletes in 10 sports, ensure the student-athletes met eligibility requirements and maintain accurate countable athletic activity logs.

Download the Central State University Public Infractions Decision

Penalties in this case include three years of probation, a $5,000 fine, a compliance audit and  vacation of games in which ineligible student-athletes competed.

This case was resolved through the summary disposition process, a cooperative effort where the involved parties collectively submit the case to the committee in written form. The NCAA enforcement staff and university must agree to the facts of the case for this process to be utilized instead of having a formal hearing.

The agreed-upon violations occurred because the university did not understand and execute NCAA rules properly when it transitioned to Division II membership. The university incorrectly believed the NCAA Eligibility Center exclusively handled initial eligibility determinations and did not need to be consulted for transfer student-athletes. The school also did not understand that it was required to verify multisport student-athletes’ amateurism status in each sport in which they participated.  These misunderstandings resulted in the university failing to verify the amateurism status resulting in 106 student-athletes competing while ineligible.

The university also permitted three student-athletes to compete and receive impermissible expenses when they did not meet eligibility requirements. It also failed to maintain accurate logs of countable athletic activity in men’s tennis, women’s track and field, men’s basketball, football and women’s volleyball.

Penalties and corrective measures prescribed by the committee include:

• Public reprimand and censure.
• Three years of probation from March 4, 2016, through March 3, 2019.
• A vacation of all wins in which ineligible student-athletes competed from 2010-11 through 2014-15. The public decision contains further details on the vacation.
• A comprehensive audit of the university’s compliance program (self-imposed by the university).
• Attendance at an NCAA Regional Rules Seminar for the athletics director, assistant coordinator for compliance, the faculty athletics representative and representatives from the Registrar and Financial Aid offices.
• A $5,000 fine.

Members of the Committees on Infractions are drawn from NCAA membership and members of the public. The members of the Division II Committee on Infractions who reviewed this case are Douglas D. Blais, professor of sport management, Southern New Hampshire University; John D. Lackey, attorney; Bridget E. Lyons, senior associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator, Barry University; Julie Rochester, chair and faculty athletics representative and associate professor, Northern Michigan University; Carey Snyder, associate director of athletics, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania; and Jane Teixeira, associate commissioner and senior compliance administrator, Pacific West Conference.

COURTESY NCAA PUBLIC AND MEDIA RELATIONS