Indiana considers options
Parting ways with Sampson could be complicated solution
What Keegan says
Indiana University basketball coach Kelvin Sampson, a more habitual telephone user than the average teenager, has brought disgrace to the once squeaky-clean Hoosiers basketball program by yet again running afoul of NCAA rules.
One man and only one man can restore Indiana’s reputation as a program that not only plays by the rules but competes for national championships. He doesn’t happen to be coaching a basketball team at the moment.
Indiana bringing Robert Montgomery Knight back to Bloomington to coach the Hoosiers again would be good for the university, good for the Hall of Fame coach and good for college basketball.
– Tom Keegan
Indianapolis ? Getting rid of coach Kelvin Sampson might not be the solution to Indiana’s problems. It’s a move that might just create a bigger mess.
When Sampson was accused Wednesday of five major NCAA infractions, it immediately set off a widespread debate over what the university should do next and whether Sampson should continue coaching at Indiana, which hasn’t had a major NCAA rules violation in nearly half a century.
“The thing I’m disappointed with is that the allegations have come out, and I feel we have to react in some way that’s in the best interests of the team and the best interests of the university,” trustee Philip Eskew Jr. said. “I think there are options.”
There’s no guarantee the NCAA would reduce Indiana’s potential penalties, and the university, which has spent the past decade paying millions of dollars to fired coaches and athletic directors, could wind up in another costly split-up.
According to the contract signed in April 2006, Indiana pays Sampson an annual base salary of $500,000. With five years left on the deal, the cost could reach at least $2.5 million.
Sampson’s deal includes termination clauses for violations of university or NCAA rules that eliminate the payments. Attorneys, however, have differing views on whether the accusations, which include providing false or misleading information to investigators, would allow Indiana to fire Sampson with cause and get off the financial hook.
Athletic director Rick Greenspan acknowledged Wednesday these are only allegations since the NCAA has not yet made a ruling, and the distinction could be important.
“It (the contract) talks about significant, intentional or repetitive violations, so the question becomes when does it become a violation?” said Indianapolis attorney Stephen Backer, a former trustee at Indiana who works in contractual law. “That’s the issue. I’m sure that’s what they’re meeting about today.”
The university has until May 8 to respond to the NCAA’s report. Sampson and university officials are scheduled to appear before the infractions committee June 14, with a final ruling expected within a month.