The NCAA ruling stemming from an investigation into UCLA assistant coach Adrian Klemm was released Friday.
The NCAA gave Klemm a two-year show cause penalty and said Klemm “admitted to paying $2,400 for housing and private training sessions on behalf of the two prospects, but he was not aware that it violated NCAA rules. While the school and coach stated that he received ample rules education, the panel noted that the coach incorrectly believed it was permissible to pay for the training because he believed the two prospects signed National Letters of Intent. The coach violated NCAA ethical conduct rules because he should have known that his arrangement would not be allowed.”
Klemm’s show-cause penalty goes into effect Friday and lasts through Sep. 15, 2018. UCLA has already submitted an oversight plan because it will be retaining Klemm. The violations occurred in March 2014.
“While I certainly did not intentionally violate NCAA rules, the fact of the matter is that I did violate NCAA rules, and I accept full responsibility,” Klemm said in a statement. “I need to be aware of every rule, and I will be moving forward. I’m thankful that this process has concluded, and my focus remains squarely on our student-athletes and helping them achieve their goals.”
UCLA has also self-imposed recruiting penalties relating to the incident and spent the spring recruiting and practice periods in 2015 with one fewer coach. That was related to Klemm’s three-month suspension and the assistant coach was also suspended for the Bruins’ first two games of the 2015 season. The school was fined $5,000.
The NCAA also said the violations were discovered via an email on Nov. 14, 2014 from Klemm’s ex-girlfriend saying he was potentially involved in breaking NCAA rules. It received another anonymous email in February 2015.
According to the detailed infractions decision (viewable in full here), the NCAA said Klemm “admitted that had he exercised more care and diligence, he would have known or understood that his arrangement violated NCAA legislation.” It also noted he committed “a significant breach of conduct that provided or was intended to provide more than a minimal but less than a substantial or extensive recruiting advantage or impermissible benefit.”
Yes, the NCAA takes the “ignorance is no defense” phrase very seriously, accusing Klemm of “unethical conduct and intentional, willful or blatant disregard for the NCAA constitution and bylaws.”
Klemm joined UCLA’s staff in 2011 and was an offensive lineman in the NFL before he got into coaching.
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