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Long Chadron State Case Ends With Public Report

The Division II Committee on Infractions has finally released the public report in the case involving Chadron State College. The case became public when Bill O’Boyle, the head coach at Chadron State during the time of the violations, was relieved of his coaching duties in October 2011. While not as long as the Miami case, it is long for a Division II case, although it is not a typical Division II violation.

The case took longer than expected because of a series of supplemental allegations and responses that arose throughout 2013. When O’Boyle responded to the allegations, his response alleged additional violations. And after the hearing in August, the athletic director Brad Smith was notified that additional violations were alleged against him personally. Both of these contributed to delaying a case that might have been wrapped up in spring 2013 without the additional allegations.

The most noteworthy of the violations involve three different outside accounts used by the football program. The funds were used to supplement institutional budgets and to pay for things like concessions and recruiting trips. One of the accounts was set up by Smith during his time as football coach. The other two were controlled by O’Boyle, one for concessions and the other to hold funds from fundraising golf tournaments. From the latter account, O’Boyle wrote two checks to student-athletes totaling $250 so they could pay bills.

The Committee on Infractions also found that the institution had an inadequate compliance program. CSC had no full-time compliance professional until 2011. From 2007 until 2011, eligibility certification was done by an administrative assistant and did not involve the office of admissions or the registrar’s office. No rules education was recorded until February 2012. The COI found this contributed to the violations which occurred and found Chadron State guilty of a failure to monitor and lack of institutional control.

For all these violations, Chadron State got off without significant competitive penalties. The institution self-imposed a reduction in football coaches allowed to recruit off-campus and a reduction in the number of official visits during spring 2013 and the 2013–14 academic year. The COI imposed a three-year probation period, a $5,000 fine, a required outside audit, and vacation of records involving ineligible student-athletes.

O’Boyle received a two-year show-cause order, which he must abide by at Southern Illinois. The terms of the show-cause include prohibiting O’Boyle from having any access to fundraising proceeds and may not handle money or registrations from football camps. He must also meet with the compliance office monthly and attend the 2014 NCAA Regional Rules Seminar at his own expense.

Smith, who is currently retired and not employed at an NCAA institution, received a two-year show-cause order. His does not specify any sanctions or restrictions. Instead, if he is hired by an NCAA institution during the show-cause, he and the institution must appear before the Committee on Infractions to decide whether and how his athletically related duties will be limited.


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