Alleged men’s basketball recruiting violations from last season have sent university adminstrators to Indianapolis to a hearing before an NCAA committee.
The allegations facing CSULB administrators and the athletics program involve the recruiting of several key junior-college transfer players, including former all-conference guards Kejuan Johnson and Aaron Nixon, and former forward Mark Dawson, all of whom played at LBSU’s NCAA Tournament appearance last season in Columbus, Ohio.
“It’s like anything else. My job is to advance the athletics program,” said Athetlic Director Vic Cegles. “It’s my job to protect the program and protect the university. … We’re cooperating fully” with the NCAA committee.
Johnson and Dawson were suspended three games last season because of alleged NCAA violations concerning academic eligibility. During that season, former assistant coach Reggie Howard was suspended indefinitely and was not retained at the end of the season due to allegations of recruiting violations.
University officials heading to the Midwest this week include Cegles; Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander; Associate Athletics Director of Compliance and Student Services Mary Ann Tripodi; men’s basketball head coach Dan Monson; Vice President of Student Affairs Doug Robinson; former faculty athletic representative Dixie Grimmett; and Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell.
They will leave Aug. 9 and appear before the committee Aug. 10.
“We’re always vigilant about our business. We expect our coaches to know the [NCAA] rules,” Cegles said. “We don’t tolerate any violations.”
Whatever happens as a result of these allegations, Cegles said, “We’ll have to wait and see.”
