Norm Sloan resigned as Florida basketball coach rather than face indictment on federal charges, two newspapers reported Thursday.

The Orlando Sentinel and the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, each quoting unidentified sources, reported that Sloan and his lawyers were informed of the possibility of an indictment by the office of interim president Robert Bryan. It was suggested that Sloan and assistants Monte Towe, Kenny McCraney and Phil Weber resign rather than be fired after charges were filed.The Sun-Sentinel said Sloan would have been accused of mail fraud. Neither newspaper was able to reach Sloan or Bryant for comment.

According to the Sentinel, Sloan's lawyer, Dexter Douglass, confirmed that he advised Sloan to accept the retirement rather than face the charges.

Sloan has repeatedly denied that NCAA violations occurred in his program, most recently in his Tuesday letter of resignation.

Meanwhile, Florida athletic director Bill Arnsparger confirmed for the Sentinel that the university is investigating its track team, which was accused of numerous NCAA violations by an anonymous letter widely circulated this week.

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It alleged that a booster gave cash to several track athletes and a truck to another, and that two athletes had an agent and received money for participating in a European meet.

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