Anyone hoping to see Mark Emmert’s time as NCAA president come to an abrupt end as a result of the botched Miami investigation is going to be sorely disappointed.
On Friday, the NCAA’s Executive Committee “unanimously affirmed its confidence” in Emmert and “support for his ongoing efforts” for further reforms.
The NCAA released an independent investigation earlier this month into missteps and insufficient oversight in the Miami case. Vice President of Enforcement Julie Roe Lach has already been terminated for her negligence by allowing Nevin Shapiro‘s attorney, Maria Elena Perez, to depose witnesses in a bankruptcy case for information related to the NCAA’s investigation.
Emmert, on the other hand, was lauded in the external report for “the appropriateness of his conduct... from his decisions to fully disclose the issue and to take all possible steps to ensure that the parties at risk in the investigation suffer no prejudice as a result of the NCAA’s mistakes.”
Still, there were numerous calls for Emmert’s resignation. Barring a sudden change -- and right or wrong when it comes to the subject of individual accountability -- that’s simply not going to happen.
Here is the full statement from the NCAA’s Executive Committee:The NCAA Executive Committee continues to support the association’s broad-based reform agenda. This reform agenda must include meaningful change in the regulatory process beyond the changes in enforcement that have already been enacted.
We, as the Executive Committee, on Friday affirmed our expectation that the association move forward with the next phase of its regulatory review. A thorough examination and subsequent improvement of processes, policies, procedures and investigative tools is necessary. Developing a mechanism for monitoring adherence with policies, while also reviewing the interaction between the legal and regulatory staffs, is key to moving forward. In short, we demand the highest level of integrity and accountability not only from our peers but also from the national office. While progress has been made, additional important work remains.
Mark Emmert was hired to lead a major transformation of the NCAA. Much has been accomplished without fanfare, such as academic reforms, enhanced fiscal accountability and organizational transparency. The Executive Committee and President Emmert recognize there is much yet to do and that the road to transformational change is often bumpy and occasionally controversial. Therefore, on Friday the Executive Committee unanimously affirmed its confidence in Mark’s leadership as president and its support for his ongoing efforts to implement these essential and historic reforms.”