University of Kentucky Reaches Agreement with NCAA on Violations

The University of Kentucky has reached an agreement with the NCAA enforcement staff regarding impermissible benefits and rules violations within its football and swimming programs, according to a recent press release. The NCAA’s Committee on Infractions has approved the agreement, which addresses violations involving the football program and the men’s and women’s swimming programs.

Between spring 2021 and March 2022, at least 11 football student-athletes received payments for work not performed. Eight of these players competed while ineligible, jeopardizing many of the team’s victories from the 2021 and 2022 seasons, including their 10-3 finish and Citrus Bowl win in 2021. However, the enforcement staff and the university agreed that no athletics department staff member knew or reasonably should have known about these payments. As a result, the violations did not support a failure-to-monitor charge for the football program.

In the swimming program, violations occurred when athletes were not provided with required days off and exceeded practice hour limits for nearly three years. These infractions led to findings of failure to monitor and head coach responsibility violations. The school acknowledged these failures and agreed to the violations.

The penalties include two years of probation for the university, a fine, and the vacation of records for any games in which ineligible football players competed. Notably, former running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., who was suspended for the first four games of the 2022 season, is believed to be central to these violations. Consequently, Kentucky is likely to vacate all 10 wins from the 2021 season, as Rodriguez played in all 13 games that year.

Despite these sanctions, the football program will not face a bowl game ban during its probation period. The NCAA’s statement clarified that the enforcement staff and the university agreed that no athletics staff member was aware of the impermissible benefits, thus avoiding a failure-to-monitor violation for the football program.

The violations in the swimming program, however, did support findings of failure to monitor and head coach responsibility. This agreement includes the vacating of wins and other records, aligning with the Level II-standard classification for the university.

One former coach did not participate in the agreement, and their case will be considered separately by the Committee on Infractions. The process is ongoing, and the committee’s final decision, including possible penalties for the former coach, is still pending.

About The Author

Eric Boggs

See author's posts