After being cleared of the major NCAA violations alleged by former team members on Dec. 16, the men’s basketball team didn’t take the time to breathe a sigh of relief. They’ve just gone on with business as usual.
“We are pleased that it is over,” said Coach Tim O’Toole. “We are looking forward to the rest of our season.”
While O’Toole denied that the investigation, which began in early August 2003, was ever a major distraction for the team, he expressed great appreciation for how his players handled themselves during the difficult situation.
“One thing we try and teach our student athletes is how to deal with adversity,” he said. “We focused on this and I’m very proud of how they handled it.”
After allegations of NCAA violations surfaced in the Aug. 5, 2003 edition of the Connecticut Post, Fairfield University hired the firm of Bond, Schoeneck ‘ King to investigation claims made by former team members.
Jermaine Clark ’02, Oscar Garcia ’03, Jeremy Logan ’03, and two former players who requested to remain anonymous, alleged that members of the basketball coaching staff violated NCAA policies by falsified drug tests, committed academic dishonesty and provided cash handouts to players.
Yet only a few secondary infractions were discovered by the firm, a result “…not unusual during such an extensive program review,” according to Father Jeffrey von Arx.
While the investigation turned out to be a rather extensive process, Athletic Director Eugene Doris was pleased with the outcome.
“I think all of us in the Athletic Department and the university administration were satisfied that the investigation was thorough and complete and conducted in a professional manner by a firm with an excellent reputation in such matters,” said Doris. “As for the outcome, I believe that it affirmed that the allegations were just that, allegations and not more.”
While the major allegations proved false, the investigation in itself has led Doris to consider altering certain procedures within the department in hopes of preventing the occurrence of a similar situation.
“The small number of secondary violations in the men’s basketball program and the rationale as to why some negative perceptions might have led to the allegations has given us an opportunity to assess our operating procedures and to work at ways to do a better job in communicating and understanding of those procedures to both coaches and student-athletes,” he said.
Doris added that the process has reinforced the necessity of open communication between players and coaches.
“We need to ensure that student-athletes know that there are many lines within those procedures to address concerns that they might have to the administration,” he said. “When they feel that there is a wrong that has been committed, the administration will be responsive in investigating their concerns.”
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