The sanctions came after an internal investigation by LSU revealed violations of NCAA rules in a case that centered around the recruitment of a junior college player in the summer of 2009.
The NCAA deemed the violations, which included impermissible transportation and lodging, major. But in a report released Tuesday, it noted the thorough actions of LSU’s compliance department as a reason for the one-year probation period, which runs until July 18, 2012.
“The committee lauds the institution’s compliance office for its efforts to investigate and uncover the violations,” the NCAA wrote in its report.
In addition to the probation, the NCAA publicly reprimanded LSU and accepted a host of self-imposed penalties. Penalties include recruiting restrictions, scholarship reductions, telephone contact restrictions, and a one-year show- cause order for a former assistant coach that restricts his athletics-related duties.
“This is a fair outcome and we are pleased that the NCAA chose to accept our self-imposed sanctions, even giving LSU a reduced penalty of only one year of probation because of the admirable work of our compliance staff,” said LSU athletics director Joe Alleva. “It is extremely rare that a university would be given less than two years probation in a situation like this.”
Violations occurred when a former assistant coach arranged for, or provided transportation for the prospect. He also made impermissible phone calls to the prospect and, according to the NCAA report, “either knew of or should have known of impermissible lodging arrangements” given to the prospect. His actions constituted unethical conduct, the NCAA’s report said.
The prospect never played a game at LSU and the coach involved in the improper courting stepped down later that year.
The case found more violations occurred when three non-coaching members of the athletics administration made or received more than 3,600 phone calls to or from high school coaches and administrators, prospects, and family members of prospects.
