Former Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer avoided taking a polygraph test, which could have involved questions about an alleged drug scandal involving one of his former assistant coaches, by offering his resignation, a Dallas newspaper reported Wednesday.
The Dallas Times Herald said the test was requested as part of an report Oklahoma plans to submit to the NCAA as part of its three-year probation handed down last December.Switzer, however, was relieved of taking the test when he quit his job, the newspaper said.
That test, the newspaper said, could have involved questions about a reported drug scandal involving Scott Hill, who as Oklahoma's recruiting coordinator helped keep the Sooners among the nation's top football programs.
Hill quit in March after he was criticized by the NCAA for recruiting practices.
Sources told the Times Herald that Hill is under investigation by the same FBI agents who last year arrested Oklahoma quarterback Charles Thompson on cocaine charges. A source told the Times Herald that the FBI was "getting close" to completing its investigation of Hill and submitting its findings to a federal attorney in Oklahoma City.
The source said Hill knew the investigation was nearing an end and that FBI agents believe he would have informed Switzer of that fact.
Assistant U.S. attorney Blair Watson in Oklahoma City declined to comment to the newspaper, and Hill could not be reached for comment.
Switzer announced his resignation Monday, citing what he described as restrictive rules by the NCAA as one reason for his departure.
In 16 seasons at Oklahoma, Switzer compiled a 157-29-4 record and captured two national championships. The Sooners won 12 Big Eight titles and eight of 12 bowl games during his tenure. His lifetime coaching percentage of .837 is fourth best in college football history.
The Sooners were placed on three years' probation Dec. 19, including a two-year ban on bowl games. As part of the probation, the university was required to submit compliance reports to the NCAA that included polygraph tests for Switzer and his assistants, the Times Herald said.
Switzer also came under fire in the wake of Thompson's arrest, charges against three players accused of gang-raping a woman in the athletic dorm and a January shooting incident in which an Oklahoma player shot a teammate at the athletic dorm.
Thompson has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Oklahoma defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs was named Tuesday to succeed Switzer as the Sooners' head coach.