| Keith Quigley resigned as women's basketball coach at Fontbonne last month. He also worked in the admissions office. |
Fontbonne University awarded $48,000 in impermissible financial aid and allowed its recently resigned women's basketball coach and its men's lacrosse coach to sit on a committee that determined financial aid awards for incoming student-athletes.
Because of the amount, the violation was classified as major by the NCAA and Fontbonne has been placed on two years' probation.
Under the conditions of the probation, according to an NCAA release, the university must notify all prospective student-athletes of the penalty and provide initial and annual compliance reports to the Committee on Infractions, among others.
NCAA rules state Division III athletics staff members cannot serve on financial aid committees and must not be involve with the review of scholarships a university offers to student-athletes. Keith Quigley, who was the women's basketball coach, resigned last month. Nick Silva coaches men's lacrosse.
The violations were termed as "unintentional."
“It was never Fontbonne’s intent to violate any NCAA rules, and upon learning last year that our practices might violate NCAA rules, we immediately modified our processes and improved our NCAA compliance through training, education and auditing,” said Dennis Golden, Fontbonne president. “We advised the NCAA of the practices found to violate the NCAA rules and cooperated with the NCAA in the investigation and the agreed resolution.
"We have learned from these mistakes and are moving forward in a positive light. Fontbonne University is committed to upholding the integrity of NCAA participation and compliance.”
According to a school news release, Fontbonne officials have determined and demonstrated to the NCAA that the amounts awarded to student-athletes did not disproportionately favor student-athletes compared to the general student population.