The NCAA enforcement staff said Kansas’ basketball program committed “egregious” and “severe” rules violations that “significantly undermine and threaten the NCAA Collegiate Model,” and alleged that Jayhawks coach Bill Self and assistant Kurtis Townsend “embraced, welcomed and encouraged” Adidas employees and consultants to influence high-profile basketball recruits to sign with Kansas.
That was the NCAA enforcement staff’s position in its 92-page reply to Kansas that the university released on Thursday. The Jayhawks are charged with five Level I rules violations — the most serious — including lack of institutional control. Self is charged with head-coach responsibility violations.
Under NCAA rules, a head coach could be hit with a show-cause order and be suspended up to an entire season for Level I violations.
Kansas is also charged with two Level II violations and one Level III violation related to the football program under coach David Beaty.
Because of the complexity and severity of the allegations, and Kansas’ position regarding Adidas’ role, the case might be processed through the independent accountability resolutions process (IARP). An independent resolution panel (IRP), consisting of five independent members with legal, higher education and/or sports backgrounds, would hear the case and decide what penalties the Jayhawks would face. The IRP’s decision is final, and there are no appeals.
Kansas officials, along with Self and Townsend, are disputing each of the five Level I violations regarding the men’s basketball program, as well as each of the nine aggravating factors cited by the NCAA.