NCAA faults O’Boyle, college

The NCAA officially notified Chadron State Monday that the college has until Dec. 17 to respond to four main allegations of rules violations, and has set a Feb. 22-24, 2013, hearing for the college to appear before its Committee on Infractions.

The formal allegations stem from the college’s Oct. 12, 2011, self report to the NCAA about possible football fundraising violations. The allegations focus on former head football Coach Bill O’Boyle’s behavior, his management of the football program’s finances, and the college’s lack of institutional control and oversight.

The first allegation cites three off-campus bank accounts and their use, and states, “some funds in the accounts were used to provide recruiting inducements,” and “extra benefits to student-athletes.”

The allegations also state O’Boyle wrote $600.69 in checks for improper student-athlete recruiting, and $250 in student-athlete “extra benefits,” a violation of NCAA bylaws 13 and 16. (See glossary.)

Athletic Director Brad Smith said Tuesday afternoon that the college was aware of the student-athletes’ identities that were receiving extra benefits “to a certain extent,” but that he couldn’t disclose the names, citing an NCAA privacy act. The NCAA did not respond by press time to confirm what the act states.

The second allegation detailed ethical conduct violations by O’Boyle during the investigation process, including providing “false and misleading information to the institution during its independent inquiry.”

Records show that O’Boyle signed a document Sept. 22, 2011, stating that he had only one off-campus athletics account. Smith signed the document as a witness.

The third allegation states that O’Boyle “failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance” by keeping bank accounts outside the institution’s control and failing to close them when told.

The fourth allegation blames the college’s staff for not maintaining proper control and oversight of the football program’s finances, as well as failing to provide adequate NCAA regulations training.

Hired by the NSCS to conduct an independent investigation, legal firm Stinson Morrison Hecker completed a report on possible NCAA violations dated July 19 and forwarded its finding to the NSCS and the NCAA. The report states that Smith “should have asked questions about what was being done with the funds raised by the LCG [Last Chance for Glory Golf] tournament and how O’Boyle was financing off-campus trips. Smith also should have acted to ensure the C Club account had been closed and that all concession receipts and expenditures were being run through the Foundation.”

In its notice, the NCAA asked that Chadron State respond to each allegation with its position on whether it violated NCAA rules.

Smith said he has not been told, and therefore did not know, what CSC’s response to each allegation would be.

“I’m kinda kept out of the loop,” he said.

The Nebraska State College System’s Korinne Tande, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, Marketing, Enrollment & Public Information, said Tuesday afternoon that, since the NCAA is requiring a hearing, CSC’s violations are somewhat serious.

Tande also said that, although she was no NCAA expert, she thought anyone identified in the allegations would be present at the infractions hearing.

Tande declined to comment about possible consequences, but said the System Office would keep the public informed.

“When we find out, the public will find out,” Tande said.

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, which operates independently of the NCAA in matters of discipline, also received the report.

By press time Wednesday, RMAC Commissioner J.R. Smith hadn’t returned phone calls and email messages seeking comment.

The NCAA’s notice may be accessed here.