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Ex-UConn Coach Kevin Ollie's Appeal to NCAA over Show-Cause Order Denied
May 6, 2020
The NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee announced Wednesday that it denied an appeal by former UConn men's basketball coach Kevin Ollie that sought to end his show-cause restriction.
"The NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee upheld findings that a former head UConn men's basketball coach violated head coach responsibility and ethical conduct rules," the NCAA said in a press release. "The committee also upheld a penalty that requires the former head coach to serve a three-year show-cause order, according to the decision."
Ollie was given a three-year show-cause order in July for several violations of NCAA rules and lying to investigators. The investigation found Ollie failed to monitor his staff, held preseason pickup games that violated NCAA restrictions and hired staff that exceeded the number allowed by rule.
A show-cause order ensures that violations given to coaches follow them to their next jobs, which often limits their number of opportunities. If a school wants to hire Ollie in the next three years, they'll have to agree to abide by any sanctions imposed by the NCAA or appear in front of the Committee on Infractions and show why it should not be penalized for hiring him.
Ollie's attorney, Jacques Parenteau, issued a statement to ESPN calling the decision "disgraceful":
"While we are not surprised that the NCCA Infractions Appeals Committee would simply rubber stamp the original, biased decision, it is disgraceful this committee refused to consider the ample evidence produced by counsel for Kevin Ollie showing that witnesses had lied.
"Throughout this process the NCAA has repeatedly demonstrated that its number one priority is to protect UConn, its member, and will eagerly do so at the expense of Kevin Ollie's rights. What is most shameful is the NCAA pretends that its decisions are based upon a fair adjudicative process when clearly that is not the case. Nevertheless, we will continue to fight for Kevin Ollie in the ongoing arbitration and are confident that his rights will ultimately be vindicated."
Ollie served as UConn's head coach from 2012-2018, winning the 2014 NCAA tournament before presiding over a program that fell into mediocrity over the final years of his tenure. The NCAA vacated all of UConn's wins from the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, and Ollie has not worked in college basketball since he was fired by his alma mater.
Ollie filed a grievance against UConn to obtain $10 million in back pay after the school fired him with cause.