After Sam Busch’s resignation in February 2018 for secondary NCAA rules infractions as Head Swim Coach at Texas Christian University (TCU), the NCAA Committee on Infractions granted the appeal of former Swim & Dive Coach Sam Busch. The NCAA placed no specific restrictions on Busch’s future coaching activities.
NCAA REVIEW
The NCAA panel proposed a two-year show-cause order for the head coach’s agreed-upon violations, including his violation of head coach responsibility legislation. The head coach agreed that a show-cause order is appropriate for his violations but requested that the panel reduce the period from two years to one.
Following review of the head coach’s written submission, the panel agreed with the head coach’s request. Consistent with Bylaws 19.9.5.4 and 19.9.5.5, the panel also considered actions taken by the head coach since leaving TCU.
The panel also considered the head coach’s actions subsequent to leaving TCU. Specifically, the head coach took the initiative to attend a NCAA Regional Rules Seminar at his own expense. The panel noted that attendance at Regional Rules Seminars is often prescribed as a condition of show-cause orders or as a separate penalty. Based on case guidance, the penalty guidelines and the head coach’s actions after departing TCU, the panel decided to reduce the length of his show cause order from two years to one and declined to prescribe a suspension penalty.
I would like to thank the NCAA Committee on Infractions panel for agreeing, on expedited appeal, to reduce the length of my show-cause order to only one year. I would also like to thank my legal counsel, Jackson Lewis P.C., for successfully advocating for the reduction of the penalty on my behalf. While the past two years have been very difficult, this has served as a learning and growing experience for me. I am also grateful to everyone who patiently waited for all of the facts of my case to come out. As the one year show-cause order that the Committee imposed does not contain any specific limitations on my job duties going forward, I am eager to resume my career as a college coach. – Coach Sam Busch
NCAA Statement: In separate violations, the parties agreed that the former head swimming and diving coach instructed team managers to engage in coaching activities on numerous occasions, which resulted in the program exceeding the limit of six coaches in swimming and diving. The former head coach and members of his staff also led athletically related activities beyond the time limits allowed by NCAA rules. The committee noted these rules are in place for student-athlete well-being and competitive equity reasons. The head coach also did not ensure accurate reporting of student-athletes’ countable hours to the compliance office.
A one-year show-cause order for the former coach. During that period, any NCAA member school employing him must show cause why he should not have restrictions on athletically related activity.
Excerpts from NCAA Report
Overview: The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions is an independent administrative body of the NCAA comprised of individuals from the NCAA Division I membership and the public. The committee is charged with deciding infractions cases involving member institutions and their staffs. A panel of the (Committee of Infractions (COI) considered this case through the cooperative summary disposition process in which all parties agreed to the primary facts and violations, as fully set forth in the summary disposition report (SDR).
The panel accepted the parties’ factual agreements, concluded that violations occurred and proposed additional penalties. The head coach contested the length of his show-cause order.
After considering applicable aggravating and mitigating factors, the panel classifies this case as Level II-Mitigated for the institution and Level II-Standard for the former head swimming and diving coach’s violations. Utilizing the current penalty guidelines and NCAA bylaws authorizing penalties, the panel adopts and prescribes the following additional principal penalties: one year of probation; public reprimand and censure; reporting requirements; and CARA and coaching staff reductions in the swimming and diving program.
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