Oregon put on probation, loses scholarship
The NCAA has taken away a scholarship for each of the next three seasons and placed Oregon’s football program on probation for three years for recruiting violations under previous coach Chip Kelly.
The NCAA’s Division I Infractions Committee released a report on Wednesday that found Kelly and the university failed to monitor the program.
The NCAA has been looking into Oregon’s recruiting practices since questions arose over a 2010 payment of $25,000 to Willie Lyles and his Houston-based recruiting service, Complete Scouting Services. Lyles had a connection with an Oregon recruit.
Oregon will lose one initial scholarship, from a maximum of 25, in each of the next two academic years and had its total number of scholarships reduced by one from a maximum of 85 each of the next three seasons.
The NCAA also reduced Oregon’s official paid visits from 56 to 37 for the next three academic years, reduced its evaluation days for each of the next three seasons and banned the program from using recruiting services during the probation period. Oregon must also disassociate itself from Lyles’ recruiting service.
It also placed an 18-month show-cause order for Kelly, which would require schools wishing to hire him to appear before the infractions committee to determine if the school should be subject to the show-cause procedures. Kelly left Oregon this year to become the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.
The infractions committee found that Lyles provided cash and free lodging to a prospect, and engaged in impermissible calls and off-campus contact with prospects, their families and high school coaches.
It also said the football program allowed staff members to engage in recruiting activity, exceeding coaching limits.
The NCAA said Kelly was unaware of Lyles’ involvement in recruiting, but the committee noted it is the head coach’s responsibility to know the rules and ensure staff and coaches comply with them.
Under Kelly, the Ducks appeared in four straight BCS bowl games — including a bid for the national championship against Auburn in 2011. Oregon finished 12-1 last season, capped by a victory over Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl.
He was replaced by offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich, who will make his debut as head coach on Aug. 31.
Oregon was previously penalized by the NCAA in 2004 for a major violation involving the improper recruitment of a junior college player by an assistant coach. The university was put on probation for two years and the unidentified assistant coach was suspended without pay for a week and restricted from some recruiting activities.
The Ducks remained eligible for postseason play and did not lose any scholarships because of that violation, which occurred in 2003.
