NCAA to learn findings of external review next week

The NCAA admitted an embarrassing misstep, to put it lightly, last month when it uncovered an issue of improper conduct within its enforcement program while investigating the University of Miami and its athletics program.

Reported to be one of the problems was a payment of at least $20,000 approved by VP of enforcement Julie Roe Lach and made to the attorney of former UM booster Nevin Shapiro in exchange for information that could potentially help the Association in its investigation of the program.

The NCAA has not confirmed nor denied that report from CBSSports, but we may get an answer soon enough. In a statement, the NCAA announced it will received the findings of its external investigation of the misconduct late next week, and will then disclose the findings. From the NCAA’s website:

“NCAA President Mark Emmert announced on January 23, an external review of the NCAA enforcement staff’s actions related to the University of Miami investigation would be conducted by Kenneth L. Wainstein, a partner with the law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. Mr. Wainstein has completed the necessary interviews and review of information and is now in the process of preparing a final report, which the NCAA expects to receive by the end of next week. We will release the results of the review following the completion of the report.”

The NCAA has been investigating the Miami program for over two years based on claims and accusations that Shapiro provided impermissible benefits to football and basketball players. Shapiro claims those benefits totaled in the millions of dollars. Miami has since self-imposed a pair of postseason bans.