A-State stripped of win, fined $5,000
In July of 2015, a violation occurred in the men’s basketball program at Arkansas State. According to a report released by the NCAA, the father of a former player, who was not named, informed the NCAA multiple times of violations that were occurring inside the men’s basketball program, but never gave specifics.
On December 10, 2015 Rich Zvosec, the senior associate athletics director for administration requested an interview with then director of men’s basketball operations, Kyle Drake. Drake was responsible ordering equipment. In the interview, Zvosec, asked Drake if he ever provided the unnamed player and his family with extra benefits. Drake immediately revealed he gave the player access to the men’s basketball Adidas “promo” account, and the player ordered over $5,000 in Adidas merchandise.
After the conclusion of the meeting, Zvosec informed Joel Weems, the associate athletics director for compliance, and Terry Mohajir, the director of athletics of the violation.
Then head coach John Brady was informed of the findings on Dec. 11, 2015 around 11:35 a.m. Brady stated that he had no involvement and was not aware of what had occurred. Brady also stated that he was shocked that Drake would do something like that.
The investigation concluded on Dec. 21, 2015, with A-State submitting their findings to the NCAA on December 22, 2015. Drake was fired on Dec. 21.
Drake gave the player the login information in July. After giving the player the login, Drake received an email regarding the order, saying the player ordered $5,165 worth of apparel. Drake tried to cancel the order, but was informed by Adidas that all promo account orders are final. Drake placed the packages in the equipment room, and gave the unnamed player a key to the equipment room on July 17, 2015 to retrieve the packages. The key was returned to Drake on July 18. Drake, due to fear of termination, remained silent on the matter until his interview with Zvosec.
Drake, in an interview, stated the player had been bugging him since the spring semester to let him order from the promo site. Drake stated that he told the player money reallocated in July and he would have to wait until then to order. According to Drake, the player began texting him daily starting in June, and by July, it was up to two or three times a day. Drake, who was planning his July 18 wedding, got tired of the player bugging him, and finally caved in and gave him the login information.
“It was out of my hands,” Drake said. “I didn't think there was anything else I could do about it.”
On Jan. 18, 2016 the NCAA enforcement staff and A-State athletics interviewed the unnamed player involved in the violation. During the interview, the player denied that he received login information from Drake and ordered over $5,000 of equipment. Despite the NCAA informing the player of their findings, he remained steadfast in his denial. Both Arkansas State and the NCAA believed the denials were not credible.
Nearly a month later, on Feb. 15, 2016, Drake was interviewed. Drake stuck to his story, and provided screenshots of text messages between him and the player, in which they discussed the order and where to pick the order up at. According to Drake, he went without reporting the violations because he was told by the previous staff to never trust the administration.
The NCAA and Arkansas State agreed that the player knowingly provided them with false information during his interview. The player was kicked off of the team in December of 2015 for disciplinary matter. The player has one year of eligibility remaining, and if he chooses to use that one year, the university he transfers to will be required to request that he be reinstated.
Arkansas State received corrective actions from the NCAA, such as they terminate the contract of Drake, provide education to the athletics department and staff about how to prevent a violation such as this from occurring in the future, and that the institution put procedures in place regarding promo orders.
The NCAA also stated that Arkansas State should pay $5,000 based upon the eight games the player participated in.The NCAA also required that A-State vacates all wins during the time the player was on the team. A-State will vacate their Nov. 16 81-37 victory over Lyon College.
A-State’s record for the 2015-16 season is now 10-20, while Brady’s all-time record is at A-State is now 120-199.
The violation will have no effects on A-State basketball going forward. All information in this article was obtained through the FOIA released by the NCAA.
