East Carolina assistant football coach Mark Nelson has stepped down after admitting breaking NCAA rules by evaluating players during off-season workouts that were supposed to be voluntary, school athletic director Terry Holland announced.
Nelson was hired in February to serve on first-year coach Ruffin McNeill's staff as defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator. In a statement, Holland said East Carolina's office of NCAA compliance has been investigating possible violations of an NCAA rule that prevents coaches from evaluating players during the offseason.
"When a coach observes these normal activities, the NCAA considers the activities to be non-sanctioned out-of-season practice," Holland said in the statement.
Holland said McNeill called in Nelson to discuss the possible violations. According to Holland, Nelson admitted violations that are likely to be ruled "secondary" rather than "major" after the school's formal report is filed with the NCAA.
"Coach Nelson and coach McNeill agreed that these violations would be a distraction to the team at this critical time of the year and coach Nelson offered to step down from his position," Holland said. "His offer to step down was accepted by coach McNeill pending negotiation of a severance agreement with the athletic administration and the university."
Holland said the East Carolina compliance office will file a formal report and cooperate fully with the NCAA.
Nelson served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League last season. He had 23 years of combined professional and college experience, and had coached in the SEC, Big 12, Big East and Conference USA.
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Comments
Unfortunate
Wed, 07/28/2010 - 11:56 — uBniceIt is unfortunate that this man had to lose his job over something so minor. I understand the spirit of the NCAA rule is to try to stem abuse, but c'mon. Reprimand the guy, doc his pay, but let him keep his job. The punishment simply does not fit the crime.
one more thought
Wed, 07/28/2010 - 13:59 — JPDOhioAs far as I am concerned, the NCAA and Congress are evil twins. They pass incomprehensible laws and rules that are impossible to interpret and comply with. Then they punish you for not properly interpreting or complying with their rules.
agreed
Wed, 07/28/2010 - 13:39 — JPDOhioEveryone knows there is no such thing as a "voluntary" workout. I too understand the spirit of the rule, but it is a misplaced one. If student-athletes are going to be there, it is better that they have access to medical personnel if needed. Having a coach there to observe should be allowed. The safety of the players should be paramount.
This coach losing his job is another indication of institutional over-reaction. But I can understand it, given the complexity of the rules and the power the NCAA has to punish a program for infractions.
Ha
Wed, 07/28/2010 - 14:51 — Heels20How many times did we hear this line in high school: "This is an OPTIONAL workout! You know what OPTIONAL means? IT MEANS YOU SHOW THE **** UP!"
NCAA Violations
Wed, 07/28/2010 - 11:41 — bagjunahIs it just me, or does it appear that the NCAA has more, and bigger 'fish' to fry, than to have a defensive line coach, working out a few of his players during the so called 'off-season', to lose his job. How about insuring that all the schools that give out athletic scholarships, for any event, or sport, require the students that accept them, to graduate in a reasonable amount of time. I would recommend a 6 year time limit, after which the schools would have to forfeit future athletic scholarships until those students graduated, or the students moved on into a professional career, or got a job, or passed away.
In my opinion, this would insure that the schools would take an active interest in the educational regimen of the students, and it would probably insure the recruitment of the caliber of students most likely to graduate.
Now before everyone starts complaining about all those potential students that are not 'college' educational material, I want you to stop and think about what most of these young folks are going to do with the 'rest' of their lives after their athletic careers are over. I would also require the schools that had players that were recruited and left school early, unless they had received their degrees, to lose scholarships as well, and the student would have to pay back any portion of the scholarship that was used, including interest, the reasoning behind this thought process is, if the students know that they will be required to graduate, they will take the responsibility of getting a good education seriously, or face the consequences of their actions. Either way, they, the athlete will be accountable for their actions, should they choose to leave before they complete their education and receive their degree.
In the event of an injury to the athlete, the school would be held responsible for insuring that everything that could be done for the student, is done, and to accommodate any special needs as required for these students to complete their education, and the extension of the 6 year time limit would be considered on an individual basis.
Better
Wed, 07/28/2010 - 10:08 — YAR8packWhen dealing with the NCAA, it's so much better to tell on yourself than have someone do it for you. Though, if ECU goes the way I think they're going to this year, I don't think anyone will accuse them of cheating or any kind of violation to assist the team. Here's to hoping I'm very wrong. The team lost over 20 players from last year; they're instituting a new offensive and defensive scheme, and getting used to a new coaching staff. There are a lot of what ifs and what will be with this team.
OK GO PIRATES!!!