Title: Miami Hurricanes Under Renewed NCAA Scrutiny Due to NIL and Historical Violations
The University of Miami Hurricanes athletic department is once again under NCAA scrutiny, as worries grow over potential violations of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) activities and the university’s prior compliance record. This fresh focus follows recent punishments imposed on fellow Southeastern teams, the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators, reflecting the NCAA’s increased emphasis on regulatory compliance in collegiate athletics.
In a groundbreaking ruling in February 2023, the NCAA placed Miami’s women’s basketball program on one-year probation. This was the first NCAA penalty for NIL actions, resulting from impermissible interaction between a booster and two prospective student-athletes. The NCAA found that Miami’s coaching staff facilitated this interaction, which violated recruiting guidelines. The university acknowledged the violations and cooperated with the investigation, resulting in a very mild penalty.
The Miami athletic department has a long history of NCAA violations. Notably, the 2011 controversy involving booster Nevin Shapiro revealed that he donated about $2 million in illegal gifts to at least 72 athletes and coaches from 2002 to 2010. The NCAA’s inquiry culminated with Miami self-adding a two-year postseason suspension and the NCAA imposing additional penalties, such as scholarship reductions and probation.
More recently, the NCAA has been looking into possible tampering charges involving Miami’s football program. While specifics remain private, reports indicate that if found guilty, Miami might face punishments hurting recruitment capacity as well as financial penalties.