UH volleyball under fire
| • | UH admits it broke NCAA rule |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i is looking into an accusation that its men's volleyball team used a player with professional experience during the Warriors' national-championship season in 2002.
UH coach Mike Wilton confirmed the school's general counsel is "checking into the matter."
If UH finds the accused player violated any rules, 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.
Wilton declined to identify the accused player, but The Advertiser has learned he is an international student. Costas Theocharidis, Geronimo Chala, Dejan Miladinovic, Eyal Zimet, Jake Muise and Jose Delgado were the foreign-born players on the 2002 roster.
Wilton declined comment on the specifics and referred additional questions to Jan Gouveia, UH's director of risk management, and UH athletic director Herman Frazier. Gouveia did not return calls to The Advertiser yesterday. A spokeswoman said Frazier had left work before he could receive a message from The Advertiser.
It has not been made public who filed the accusation against UH 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. UH basketball players Predrag Savovic and Haim Shimonovich missed games for such infractions. In January, freshman Pedro Azenha was suspended for the Warriors' first four volleyball matches because he played in a tournament that included pro players.
