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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 7:14 a.m., Wednesday, February 13, 2008

CBKB: NCAA says Sampson misled Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson and his staff violated telephone recruiting restrictions imposed because of his previous violations at Oklahoma, then lied about it to the school and NCAA investigators, according to an NCAA report released today.

The report listed five major violations against Sampson, saying he gave "false or misleading information."

Sampson "failed to deport himself ... with the generally recognized high standard of honesty" and "failed to promote an atmosphere for compliance within the men's basketball program," according to the report.

Major violations of NCAA rules can carry punishments including postseason ineligibility. Indiana has had no NCAA major violations since 1960.

School spokesman Larry McIntyre said the university would release a response later Wednesday.

Indiana has until May 8 to provide a written response. The letter says IU officials will be required to appear June 14 in Seattle at a hearing before the Division I Committee on Infractions.

The report comes more than three months after the university announced that its investigation found Sampson made more than 100 impermissible phone calls while still on NCAA probation for infractions he committed during his tenure at Oklahoma.

Sampson was found to have made 577 impermissible calls from 2000-2004 and was punished by the NCAA in May 2006, less than two months after taking the Indiana job. Sampson was banned from calling recruits and making off-campus visits for one year.

Among the restrictions imposed on Sampson was a provision that did not allow him to participate in three-way calls. But the university found Sampson was involved in at least 10 three-way calls, most patched through by then assistant coach Rob Senderoff.

Sampson said in October he was unaware he was participating in a three-way conversation on nine occasions.

The university then imposed its own sanctions on Sampson — forfeiting a $500,000 pay raise and one scholarship next season. Senderoff also was punished by forfeiting any bonuses or salary increases for one year and later resigned.