UH admits it broke rule
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i athletic director Herman Frazier said today the school has committed a violation "regarding the eligibility of one of our men's volleyball players."
Although the complaint was filed in May, The Advertiser has learned that the violation involved a player with professional experience and that the player played during the Warriors' national-championship season in 2002.
The school will forward a suggested punishment to the NCAA. Punishments can range from forfeiture of the title — the school's only NCAA men's team championship — to reprimands. The NCAA can accept the recommendation, come up with its own punishment or take no action.
"On May 7, 2003, the University received notification from the NCAA regarding the eligibility of one of our men's volleyball players," Frazier said in a faxed statement.
"As a result, we have recently concluded an extensive internal investigation regarding the inquiry. Due to privacy issues, we cannot release the name of the player.
"Although the University's report to the NCAA concludes there has been a violation, it also states that the University and the men's volleyball coaching staff did not know and could not have known about it until the investigation was completed in June 2003," Frazier's statement said.
"The report is being forwarded to the NCAA today. Until a decision has been reached by the NCAA, it would be premature to speculate or comment on any aspect of this matter."
UH coach Mike Wilton would not identify the player. But people familiar with the situation and who requested anonymity said the player is an international student. Because of the sensitive nature of the situation, the sources didn't want to be identified. The foreign-born players on the 2002 roster were Costas Theocharidis, Geronimo Chala, Dejan Miladinovic, Eyal Zimet, Jake Muise and Jose Delgado.
It has not been made public who filed the accusation or in what form it was reported or received.
Citing organizational policy, NCAA spokeswoman Kay Hawes said the NCAA does not comment on ongoing cases or confirm if an accusation has been reported. She said the NCAA usually releases statements in completed cases in which sanctions are assessed.
When a school is alerted to a potential problem, it can seek an opinion from conference officials. UH is a member of the Western Athletic Conference, although its men's volleyball team competes in the 12-team Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The WAC does not sponsor men's volleyball.
MPSF executive director Al Beaird and WAC commissioner Karl Benson said they were unaware of either the accusation or the investigation.
Wilton has recruited several international players in 11 seasons as UH's head coach. But he said the athletic department has a thorough screening process, which includes background checks.
"When we recruit anybody," Wilton said, "the first things we ask, within three minutes, are: 'Do you have an agent? Are you taking money? Have you signed a contract?' If they answer 'yes' to any of those, we wish them a fond farewell."
In recent years, the NCAA has sanctioned member schools for using players who did not accept money but played alongside professionals. In January, freshman Pedro Azenha was suspended for the Warriors' first four volleyball matches because he played in a tournament that included pro players.
