UCF headed to Indianapolis for NCAA hearing

[Rizman]

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Officials from the University of Central Florida will be in Indianapolis on Friday for a hearing with the NCAA to determine whether the school's self-imposed penalties are sufficient following an investigation into major recruiting violations within its football and basketball programs.

A delegation from UCF that includes President John Hitt and new athletics director Todd Stansbury will appear before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions two months after implementing several penalties in response the allegations notice the school received in November saying the Knight's athletic programs were involved with runners for sports agents, and cash payments and gifts to recruits.

UCF's self-imposed sanctions include: Three years of probation, the vacation of all men's basketball victories for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11, reducing its scholarships by one each of the next two years in basketball, and the reduction of recruiting days by both basketball and football coaches.

Hitt was unavailable for comment about the hearing, and Stansbury is declining to comment because the infractions occurred prior to him taking over. But UCF spokesman Grant Heston released a statement to The Associated Press that expressed optimism about the meeting.

''UCF has worked with the NCAA transparently and collaboratively, enhanced our athletics compliance efforts and self-imposed significant penalties,'' the statement said. ''We look forward to discussing these issues with the committee and answering its questions thoroughly.''

The NCAA won't comment on open cases, but typically it takes at least two months after the hearing before it renders a final decision.

Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky is currently serving on the committee, but NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson confirmed that members with direct connections to schools are automatically recused from those cases, per committee policy.

Keith Tribble resigned as UCF's athletic director in November, along with football assistant coach David Kelly after the NCAA cited both for unethical conduct for involvement Ken Caldwell, a reputed recruiter for a professional sports agency, and associate Brandon Bender had with school officials and athletes.

In addition, UCF basketball coach Donnie Jones was suspended by Hitt for three conference games last season. O'Leary was not cited for wrongdoing in the NCAA's allegations' report, but has since received a letter of reprimand as part of UCF's self-imposed penalties, along with Jones and assistant men's basketball coach Darren Tillis.

Messages left for Tribble's attorney were not immediately returned, nor was a call to the home of Kelly. Both are expected to attend the hearing.

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