Rutgers investigating football coach Kyle Flood for possible rules violation | NJ.com
NEW BRUNSWICK — Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood could face a suspension or firing because of impermissible contact with a university faculty member regarding the status of one of his players, two people with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media.
The university's office of general counsel is investigating the severity of the alleged violation, which, the sources said, is focused on an email Flood allegedly sent from a personal account to a faculty member at the university's Mason Gross School of Arts regarding the status of Nadir Barnwell. The junior cornerback is reportedly in danger of being deemed academically ineligible.
The two university officials, who are not directly responsible for matters related to the athletics program yet have knowledge of the investigation, were not authorized to comment on the investigation. They spoke to NJ Advance Media on the condition of anonymity. One of the people with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media the investigation is expected to be concluded quickly.
MORE: Kyle Flood responds to report of investigation
If Flood is found to have failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance by attempting to provide an impermissible benefit to a student-athlete in his program, possible discipline includes a public reprimand, suspension or termination from his contract, a university official familiar with the situation told NJ Advance Media.
Flood, who is set to begin his fourth season as Rutgers head coach on Sept. 5 when the Scarlet Knights host Norfolk State, declined comment through a spokesman before practice on Tuesday.
Rutgers DB Nadir Barnwell waits to find out his eligibility
Rutgers cornerback Nadir Barnwell says he is waiting to hear from Coach Kyle Flood about his eligibility for this football season. (Video by John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Athletic director Julie Hermann referred all questions to the office of university president Robert Barchi, who was not available for comment for this story on Tuesday afternoon.
The severity of any potential punishment depends on the content of the email, according to two top university officials. Attempts by NJ Advance Media to review the contents of Flood's email were not successful.
It's not clear whether Flood could be in violation of an NCAA or Big Ten rule just by contacting the professor of one of his players. One of the university officials monitoring the investigation said the university's athletics compliance department prohibits coaches from communicating with instructors, however.
The same university official told NJ Advance Media that any and all contact with a professor of a student-athlete must be made by the relevant academic support member.
In December 2014, the NCAA handed strict penalties against a University of Georgia swimming and diving coach in what's believed to be a similar case.
In that case, the coach was found to have ignored "an unwritten policy that prohibited coaches from communicating with instructors'' and "contacted a professor in the psychology department'' and "proposed that the professor admit the student-athlete to a pass/fail independent study.''
The college athletics governing body ruled: "Because the head coach proposed and acted upon a special arrangement, leveraged by his position on campus and/or his relationship with a faculty member, to ensure that a student-athlete was eligible to compete in the upcoming season, the head coach violated NCAA Bylaw 16. The head coach did not look to the compliance office for any assistance or guidance on this issue.''
In addition, the NCAA ruled the Georgia swimming coach's "conduct not only violated institutional policy but also contrary to the advice provided by athletics department personnel. And to that end, the head coach violated NCAA Bylaw 11.''
As a result, the NCAA deemed the penalties as a Level II violation, which is defined as violations "intended to provide more than a minimal but less than a substantial or extensive recruiting, competitive or other advantage; include more than a minimal but less than a substantial or extensive impermissible benefit; or involve conduct that may compromise the integrity of the NCAA Collegiate Model.
The NCAA ruled the Georgia coach "shall be suspended from 50 percent of the regular season competition'' during that season and the coach "shall also be restricted from all recruiting duties for the period of one year.''
According to the terms of the contract he signed when he became Rutgers head coach on Jan. 31, 2012, Flood could be terminated for cause or disciplined without pay for "willful misconduct, act(s) of moral turpitude, conduct tending to bring shame or disgrace to the University as determined by'' university officials, or in "violation of university regulations, policies (or) procedures.''
According to the compliance provisions of his contract, Flood "shall be subject to all university regulations, policies and procedures, and legal requirements'' applicable to Rutgers employees, "including ethical standards and conflict of interest requirements.''
A person familiar with the Rutgers situation told NJ Advance Media the investigation is focused on not only the contents of the alleged email, but the intent if Flood is found to have sent the written correspondence to Barnwell's professor.
"Is it inappropriate to say, 'Hey, what's Nadir Barnwell's status?' Maybe, but is it impermissible? I don't know that,'' one of the top university officials involved in the investigation said. "Is there a gray area in this? It may be (justified as), 'It's stupid but it's understandable.' ''
Questions about Barnwell's academic status surfaced in May, when two popular recruiting websites broke the news that Rutgers' cornerback was in danger of being ruled ineligible for the 2015 season.
Flood acknowledged the rumors on May 28, but said "those final decisions really don't get made until the end of the summer session.'' The Rutgers coach reiterated that statement as his players reported to training camp Aug. 9.
In an interview with reporters on Aug. 16, Barnwell said he couldn't comment on where he stands with his eligibility status. Asked when Rutgers fans will know whether he's eligible to play or not this season, Barnwell referred questions to Flood.
"You're going to have to talk to Coach Flood about that one,'' said Barnwell, who started six of 10 games last season. "That's really all I know right now.''
The 5-11, 185-pound Barnwell, who has appeared in 22 games, including 10 starts, in his first two seasons, entered the offseason as the presumed starter in an relatively unproven defensive backfield.
Barnwell has been allowed to practice during training camp while waiting for clarification on his academic eligibility.
NEW BRUNSWICK — Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood could face a suspension or firing because of impermissible contact with a university faculty member regarding the status of one of his players, two people with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media.
The university's office of general counsel is investigating the severity of the alleged violation, which, the sources said, is focused on an email Flood allegedly sent from a personal account to a faculty member at the university's Mason Gross School of Arts regarding the status of Nadir Barnwell. The junior cornerback is reportedly in danger of being deemed academically ineligible.
The two university officials, who are not directly responsible for matters related to the athletics program yet have knowledge of the investigation, were not authorized to comment on the investigation. They spoke to NJ Advance Media on the condition of anonymity. One of the people with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media the investigation is expected to be concluded quickly.
MORE: Kyle Flood responds to report of investigation
If Flood is found to have failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance by attempting to provide an impermissible benefit to a student-athlete in his program, possible discipline includes a public reprimand, suspension or termination from his contract, a university official familiar with the situation told NJ Advance Media.
Flood, who is set to begin his fourth season as Rutgers head coach on Sept. 5 when the Scarlet Knights host Norfolk State, declined comment through a spokesman before practice on Tuesday.
Rutgers DB Nadir Barnwell waits to find out his eligibility
Rutgers cornerback Nadir Barnwell says he is waiting to hear from Coach Kyle Flood about his eligibility for this football season. (Video by John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Athletic director Julie Hermann referred all questions to the office of university president Robert Barchi, who was not available for comment for this story on Tuesday afternoon.
The severity of any potential punishment depends on the content of the email, according to two top university officials. Attempts by NJ Advance Media to review the contents of Flood's email were not successful.
It's not clear whether Flood could be in violation of an NCAA or Big Ten rule just by contacting the professor of one of his players. One of the university officials monitoring the investigation said the university's athletics compliance department prohibits coaches from communicating with instructors, however.
The same university official told NJ Advance Media that any and all contact with a professor of a student-athlete must be made by the relevant academic support member.
In December 2014, the NCAA handed strict penalties against a University of Georgia swimming and diving coach in what's believed to be a similar case.
In that case, the coach was found to have ignored "an unwritten policy that prohibited coaches from communicating with instructors'' and "contacted a professor in the psychology department'' and "proposed that the professor admit the student-athlete to a pass/fail independent study.''
The college athletics governing body ruled: "Because the head coach proposed and acted upon a special arrangement, leveraged by his position on campus and/or his relationship with a faculty member, to ensure that a student-athlete was eligible to compete in the upcoming season, the head coach violated NCAA Bylaw 16. The head coach did not look to the compliance office for any assistance or guidance on this issue.''
In addition, the NCAA ruled the Georgia swimming coach's "conduct not only violated institutional policy but also contrary to the advice provided by athletics department personnel. And to that end, the head coach violated NCAA Bylaw 11.''
As a result, the NCAA deemed the penalties as a Level II violation, which is defined as violations "intended to provide more than a minimal but less than a substantial or extensive recruiting, competitive or other advantage; include more than a minimal but less than a substantial or extensive impermissible benefit; or involve conduct that may compromise the integrity of the NCAA Collegiate Model.
The NCAA ruled the Georgia coach "shall be suspended from 50 percent of the regular season competition'' during that season and the coach "shall also be restricted from all recruiting duties for the period of one year.''
According to the terms of the contract he signed when he became Rutgers head coach on Jan. 31, 2012, Flood could be terminated for cause or disciplined without pay for "willful misconduct, act(s) of moral turpitude, conduct tending to bring shame or disgrace to the University as determined by'' university officials, or in "violation of university regulations, policies (or) procedures.''
According to the compliance provisions of his contract, Flood "shall be subject to all university regulations, policies and procedures, and legal requirements'' applicable to Rutgers employees, "including ethical standards and conflict of interest requirements.''
A person familiar with the Rutgers situation told NJ Advance Media the investigation is focused on not only the contents of the alleged email, but the intent if Flood is found to have sent the written correspondence to Barnwell's professor.
"Is it inappropriate to say, 'Hey, what's Nadir Barnwell's status?' Maybe, but is it impermissible? I don't know that,'' one of the top university officials involved in the investigation said. "Is there a gray area in this? It may be (justified as), 'It's stupid but it's understandable.' ''
Questions about Barnwell's academic status surfaced in May, when two popular recruiting websites broke the news that Rutgers' cornerback was in danger of being ruled ineligible for the 2015 season.
Flood acknowledged the rumors on May 28, but said "those final decisions really don't get made until the end of the summer session.'' The Rutgers coach reiterated that statement as his players reported to training camp Aug. 9.
In an interview with reporters on Aug. 16, Barnwell said he couldn't comment on where he stands with his eligibility status. Asked when Rutgers fans will know whether he's eligible to play or not this season, Barnwell referred questions to Flood.
"You're going to have to talk to Coach Flood about that one,'' said Barnwell, who started six of 10 games last season. "That's really all I know right now.''
The 5-11, 185-pound Barnwell, who has appeared in 22 games, including 10 starts, in his first two seasons, entered the offseason as the presumed starter in an relatively unproven defensive backfield.
Barnwell has been allowed to practice during training camp while waiting for clarification on his academic eligibility.
