The investigation of Central Florida’s athletic program by the NCAA over multiple recruiting allegations spanning two sports is officially over.
The Knights’ athletic troubles, however, are not.
In a Tuesday release, the NCAA announced that UCF’s athletic program allowed “impermissible recruiting activity undertaken by... third parties, who through their activity became athletics representatives of UCF.” The activities were “both known by athletics department personnel, and, in some cases encouraged.”
The NCAA investigation determined that Ken Caldwell, a recruiter for a professional sports agency, provided more than $16,000 to three prospects and two UCF student-athletes. The investigation also found ex-UCF Athletics Director Keith Tribble engaged in unethical activity and “failed to take steps to prevent the involvement of boosters in recruiting activities” -- among other violations.
As a result, the NCAA hit the UCF football program with a one-year postseason ban and reduction of five initial (from 25 maximum) and five total (from 85 maximum) football scholarships for three academic years. Additionally, the athletics program will be fined $50,000 and placed on five years probation. Tribble was given three-year “show cause” penalties, while former receivers coach David Kelly was given a one-year penalty of the same category.
The NCAA also determined UCF “exhibited a lack of institutional control and was responsible for impermissible recruiting activities and extra benefits.”
Other recruiting sanctions include:
- A reduction of two full-time football coaches permitted to recruit off-campus during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years
- A reduction in the available number of recruiting person days by nine in the fall football evaluation period and 34 in the spring football evaluation period during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years (self-imposed by the university)
- Football official paid visits are limited to 30 for each of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years.
The Knights are the preseason favorites to win the Conference USA title before making the move to the Big East. Given the NCAA’s sanctions, however, they won’t be able to leave the conference on a high note.