The Texas-El Paso men's basketball team emerged from an NCAA investigation with a light punishment that puts the program on three years' probation and cuts the number of scholarships and campus visits allowed.
The NCAA handed down the sanctions Tuesday, completing a process that began in December 1989. School officials said they were relieved the investigation had finally ended."It's been a long two years and I know I'm very happy and I have talked to my squad and they're very happy it's over," said Don Haskins, UTEP's coach since 1961.
The NCAA cut the number of UTEP's school-paid visits by recruits from 15 to eight. In 1992-93 and 1993-94, the Miners can give only two new scholarships, but may continue honoring those already awarded.
Haskins said he has 14 players on scholarship and this recruiting season he offered five new scholarships.
"You always hope you never have to lose players, but if we had a couple people transferred, that could leave us a couple people short," Haskins said.
UTEP likely won't appeal the sanctions, said Richard Adauto, assistant to university president Diana Natalicio. Adauto conducted an internal investigation.
In a news release, the NCAA said that its investigation of UTEP basketball found "a wide variety of secondary violations that indicated a casual attitude toward NCAA rules by the coaching staff." The NCAA also said the university wasn't doing a good job of educating athletic officials about recruiting rules.
The NCAA dropped a sanction that would have banned UTEP from postseason competition this season because the university fired assistant coaches Russ Bradburd and Greg Lakey and has put in stricter rules to ensure rules compliance.
"The committee on infractions determined that this case was a unique case in which the institution should receive less than the full set of minimum penalties otherwise required by NCAA legislation," the NCAA said.
The NCAA began investigating UTEP's basketball program in 1989 when former players told newspapers of receiving cash, gifts and favors from school officials and boosters.
The 14-month investigation, completed in February, turned up 13 violations and the school reported two more, including improper recruiting and cars provided free to athletes by boosters.
The NCAA said Haskins was lax in supervising his staff.
"The mistakes have been made," Haskins said. "I don't think they are all mine but maybe I'll have to pay more attention. I made my mistake by not paying close enough attention to little things."
While the university is on probation, it must implement a program to educate coaches and athletic staff on NCAA legislation and submit regular compliance and progress reports. The first is due Jan. 1.
The NCAA also ordered the school to supervise an independent booster organization, El Dorados, more closely.
In 1992, the university also must disassociate itself with two athletic boosters it felt were involved in the violations or show why it should not be penalized for not doing so.