USM releases statement regarding NCAA review

Dear USM Community:

This week, The University of Southern Mississippi received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA related to alleged rules violations within our men’s basketball program while under the leadership of a former head coach. While the NCAA process will take several months to complete, we did not want to wait to update you as this investigation is rightfully of great interest to the USM community.

The Notice of Allegations, which has been posted at SouthernMiss.com, includes charges involving serious misconduct by the former head coach and members of his staff. The alleged violations do not involve any current member of the men’s basketball team or coaching staff. Importantly, the notice does not include a charge of a lack of institutional control or failure to monitor the program by the University. Further, the academic misconduct identified in the notice relates to coursework undertaken at other institutions prior to the students’ enrollment at USM.

The University understands the serious nature of the allegations and has worked collaboratively with the NCAA in reviewing this matter since last fall. We will continue to fully cooperate with the NCAA through the remainder of the administrative process, which we do not expect to conclude before Spring 2016.

We are pleased that this phase of the review is complete and look forward to our men’s basketball program continuing to move in a positive direction. Inasmuch as this is an ongoing process, we are not able to provide additional information or comment further at this time. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we look forward to a conclusion to this matter.

Rodney D. Bennett President

Bill McGillis

Director of Athletics

To view Notice of Allegations please click here. (Note – The names and personally identifiable information have been redacted.)