Husson University Statement on NCAA Infraction
Published on: November 30, 2023
BANGOR, MAINE — November 30, 2023 — Husson University has accepted penalties imposed on its swimming and diving program by the NCAA Division III Committee on Infractions for a self-reported violation involving improper work payments made to a student-athlete.
In December 2022, the interim coaching staff of the swimming and diving program learned that the team’s former head coach had allowed a student-athlete to participate in team workouts while clocked in for work as a team manager. This resulted in the student-athlete being paid for time not worked.
After learning of this, Husson officials acted quickly to self-report the violation to the NCAA and to arrange a repayment of unearned wages. The university has cooperated with the investigation throughout.
"Husson University works to ensure a safe and compliant environment surrounding our athletics program,” said Husson University Director of Athletics John Sutyak, who joined the university in September 2023. “This institution has a commitment to excellence in all of our endeavors, including athletics compliance. We are confident that this was an isolated incident and have taken steps to ensure it won’t be repeated. We take any violation of NCAA rules very seriously, as shown by the quick work by the athletics staff in self-reporting, and cooperating, with NCAA officials.”
“The university regrets that this incident has occurred and we are committed to treating this as a learning experience from which we will improve our practices and continue our tradition of excellence, holding ourselves to the highest standards of compliance and integrity,” said President Robert Clark.
The NCAA investigated the incident and developed an additional slate of penalties and corrective measures resulting from this infraction. Although the NCAA also ruled that the former Husson swimming and diving head coach violated ethical conduct rules when he arranged for a student-athlete to be paid for work not performed as a student assistant with the swimming and diving program and that he violated head coach responsibility rules, additional penalties for the coach were not issued. The Division III Committee on Infractions prescribed the following penalties and corrective measures:
- Public reprimand and censure
- One year of probation
- Pay a $1,250 fine.