Albany State reports possible NCAA violations

ALBANY — Albany State University officials, following internal and external reviews, have reported possible violations of ASU’s athletics programs to the NCAA.

A statement Wednesday afternoon announcing the report to the NCAA did not detail what the possible violations were nor did it say which program or programs were under scrutiny. There also was no indication of how many student-athletes or coaches might be involved.

The school said the possible violations were discovered after Sherie C. Gordon, director of athletics, conducted an NCAA compliance review. The review was in response to ASU President Art Dunning’s directive for all new institutional leaders to formally assess all functions of their units. Gordon was named A.D. last September.

According to Albany State’s statement on the issue, concurrent internal and external reviews of ASU’s athletics programs were conducted. With the possible violations, the university has retained Buckner Sports Law Firm, a sports and education law firm, as outside legal counsel to assist with a comprehensive investigation into the possible violations.

The NCAA enforcement staff has agreed to conduct a joint investigation with ASU’s outside counsel, ASU officials said.

The statement said Dunning and ASU’s athletics leadership team “recognize the importance of ensuring a culture of compliance. In concert with the NCAA investigation, ASU is working diligently to implement recommendations from the NCAA review to ensure the university builds a model and compliant Division II program.”

The statement said ASU officials would not comment on the investigation “to protect the integrity of the ongoing joint inquiry, as well as to adhere to NCAA confidentiality rules.”