Violations worse than thought for UH volleyball

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

A former University of Hawai'i men's volleyball player whose amateur status is being investigated by the NCAA is alleged to have played in more than 20 matches involving professionals in Europe before enrolling at the school in August 1999, according to a UH employee familiar with details of the complaint.

Costas Theocharidis

Theocharidis, of Greece, has not returned more than a dozen messages left on his cellular telephone since July 4.

Last week, Frazier admitted the school committed a violation "regarding the eligibility of one of our men's volleyball players."

Jan Gouveia, director of UH's risk management department, forwarded UH's findings to the NCAA last week.

It could take several weeks before the NCAA announces a punishment. Punishments can range from forfeiture of the Warriors' 2002 national championship to reprimands.

The UH source said Theocharidis is accused of competing in more than 20 club matches either with or against professionals. The person asked for anonymity because UH officials have asked employees not to discuss the complaint until the NCAA issues a ruling.

Even if a player does not receive performance pay, it is an NCAA violation to compete in matches involving professionals.

Documents from the European club were included in the original complaint filed with the NCAA, according to sources, although there is no evidence Theocharidis signed a contract. It has not been made public who filed the complaint or when it was made. Frazier said the school was notified of the complaint May 7, 2003.

Theocharidis completed his playing eligibility in 2003.

In recent years, UH basketball players Haim Shimonovich and Predrag Savovic were forced to sit out games because they played in games involving professionals.

Shimonovich sat out the first 22 games of his UH career for previously playing in 22 games in a league with professionals in Israel.

But the NCAA basketball rule was changed later that year in 2001, limiting to eight the amount of games a player can be suspended.

Savovic, who was found to have played in 26 games in a league involving professionals in Yugoslavia, was suspended for seven games in the 2001-02 season.

In January, freshman Pedro Azenha was suspended for four volleyball matches because he played in a tournament involving professionals in Brazil. In 2002, UH officials cleared volleyball player Jose Delgado during an investigation into whether he played in a tournament involving professionals.

Mike Lambert, a two-time Olympian from Punahou School, who met Theocharidis in the late 1990s and is familiar with the situation, said that the two-time NCAA Player of the Year just wanted to play volleyball for a college in the United States.

"He was interested in BYU," Lambert recalled. "I said, 'Man, you should go to Hawai'i. Don't go to BYU.' I pointed him in that direction. I talked to Coach Wilton. I told him, 'He's a Jason Ring who can pass.' That's how I put it. ... I put in a good word."

Lambert said if Theocharidis "wanted to make money, he could have turned pro. He wanted to go to a university."

Lambert said Theocharidis likely received the basics — a uniform, meals and transportation on road trips — that are permitted under NCAA guidelines. The NCAA does not allow players to receive prize money or participation fees.

"He's not a pro," Lambert said, adding, "if you call any of his teammates and ask if they're paid professionals, they'll laugh at your face. ... We're talking basics. The guy isn't making any money. He's not taking anyone out to dinner."

Lambert said some amateurs in Europe are asked to sign contracts with club teams. Lambert said the contract, in fact, is a player's promise to play for the club when he turns professional.

"It's called your transfer card," Lambert said. He added: "If I was on the committee reviewing this and I knew all of the facts, there's no way I'd call the guy a pro."