Bruce Pearl Hit with Three-Year "Show Cause" Penalty

Ex-Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl has been hit with a three-year "show cause" penalty for his role in the recruiting violations and subsequent cover-up that ended his tenure with the Vols.

The "show cause" penalty is the harshest the NCAA can levy on an individual. That status means any institution wishing to hire Pearl must appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions and explain the hiring decision, and potentially face sanctions as a result. No Division I institution has ever taken that step. In fact, only one coach in Division I men's basketball history - Morgan State's Todd Bozeman - has ever landed a head coaching job after being hit with the "show cause" penalty.

Pearl's "show cause" status expires on August 23, 2014. Three of his assistant coaches - Tony Jones, Steve Forbes and Jason Shay - received the same penalty, but with a one-year duration.

Of course, just because he can't work in the NCAA doesn't mean Pearl won't be spending any time in basketball gyms for the next three years. The controversial coach reportedly has an offer to take over the Texas Legends - the D-League affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks.

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What is the Death Penalty?

Definition: The "death penalty" is the harshest sentence the NCAA can levy against a program: a ban that prevents the program from participating in a sport for a period of time.

The death penalty has been used just five times in NCAA history -- twice against basketball programs.

• Kentucky (1952-53): The Wildcats' 1952-53 season was canceled after three players - Alex Groza, Ralph Beard and Dale Barnstable - were arrested for their roles in a massive point-shaving operation.
• Southwestern Louisiana (1973-75): The Rajin' Cajuns were banned for two seasons for a host of recruiting violations including forgery of high school transcripts.

Kentucky came close to receiving the death penalty a second time in the late eighties, but escaped with three years of probation and a two-year postseason ban.

Examples:

Gregg Doyel of CBSSports.com recently called for Oklahoma to receive the NCAA's death penalty after word surfaced that a Sooner assistant coach was in contact with a financial advisor that allegedly made payments to OU players.

View the original article here

What is the Death Penalty?

Definition: The "death penalty" is the harshest sentence the NCAA can levy against a program: a ban that prevents the program from participating in a sport for a period of time.

The death penalty has been used just five times in NCAA history -- twice against basketball programs.

• Kentucky (1952-53): The Wildcats' 1952-53 season was canceled after three players - Alex Groza, Ralph Beard and Dale Barnstable - were arrested for their roles in a massive point-shaving operation.
• Southwestern Louisiana (1973-75): The Rajin' Cajuns were banned for two seasons for a host of recruiting violations including forgery of high school transcripts.

Kentucky came close to receiving the death penalty a second time in the late eighties, but escaped with three years of probation and a two-year postseason ban.

Examples:

Gregg Doyel of CBSSports.com recently called for Oklahoma to receive the NCAA's death penalty after word surfaced that a Sooner assistant coach was in contact with a financial advisor that allegedly made payments to OU players.

View the original article here