I'm not going to name names from what I heard tonight but I know some letters of inquiry have been sent out to schools this week.
Here is what was sent to some people in the NCAA and working with NIL groups.
Colleagues,
On behalf of NCAA member schools, the national office is working hard to pursue potential violations related to the interim name, image and likeness (NIL) policy. The enforcement staff understands the need for action and the urgency in this environment. Accordingly, below is a brief update regarding the enforcement staff's work.
As a reminder, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors wanted student-athletes to have NIL opportunities as soon as possible while also navigating the varying state laws. The Board continues to monitor the NIL landscape and appointed a Council working group to determine whether modifications should be made, or additional guidance should be provided.
The interim policy maintains expectations that NCAA members adhere to key principles of college athletics and abide by rules regarding inducements, benefits, contacts, recruiting, etc. Protecting the environment starts with member schools following self-regulating requirements. To achieve success and protect fair competition from abuses, member cooperation and communication with the NCAA enforcement staff is imperative when self-regulating requirements fail.
As always, much of enforcement's work is known only to parties involved in a confidential investigation. We conduct most of our business with schools, conferences and others without public visibility. We also recognize the need for transparency and action, so we operate every day with genuine urgency on behalf of the Association. We're balancing that charge with the need to respect the interests of individual schools and safeguards in the infractions process. That balance helps us separate substantiated reports from widely-publicized rumors that our investigations demonstrate are not true.
To those ends, the enforcement staff is actively investigating potential abuses of NIL transactions and we'll allege any substantiated concerns as soon as possible. We also constantly review new reports of tampering, recruiting inducements, impermissible benefits, impermissible recruiters and other related behaviors. We engage across the membership and pursue actionable leads aggressively. As member schools know, our focus is not on targeting student-athletes, but rather the actors who pose a threat to the integrity of college sports.
Investigations can be challenging and the enforcement staff needs help from member schools. Specific information about contacts or transactions will expedite investigations and help us secure truthful accounts. We understand why coaches and student-athletes are reluctant to provide documentary evidence and details on the record, but it's critically important in our effort to protect compliant programs. Candidly, we need these materials because too many NIL arrangements are not made in the sunshine and getting accurate information is difficult. Individuals should contact the enforcement staff directly and any information can be provided anonymously.
As enforcement works on behalf of member schools and student-athletes, we ask for your help in return. Together we can root out unfair behaviors while encouraging healthy NIL opportunities.
Stan Wilcox
Executive Vice President of Regulatory Affairs
Jon Duncan
Vice President of Enforcement
Here is what was sent to some people in the NCAA and working with NIL groups.
Colleagues,
On behalf of NCAA member schools, the national office is working hard to pursue potential violations related to the interim name, image and likeness (NIL) policy. The enforcement staff understands the need for action and the urgency in this environment. Accordingly, below is a brief update regarding the enforcement staff's work.
As a reminder, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors wanted student-athletes to have NIL opportunities as soon as possible while also navigating the varying state laws. The Board continues to monitor the NIL landscape and appointed a Council working group to determine whether modifications should be made, or additional guidance should be provided.
The interim policy maintains expectations that NCAA members adhere to key principles of college athletics and abide by rules regarding inducements, benefits, contacts, recruiting, etc. Protecting the environment starts with member schools following self-regulating requirements. To achieve success and protect fair competition from abuses, member cooperation and communication with the NCAA enforcement staff is imperative when self-regulating requirements fail.
As always, much of enforcement's work is known only to parties involved in a confidential investigation. We conduct most of our business with schools, conferences and others without public visibility. We also recognize the need for transparency and action, so we operate every day with genuine urgency on behalf of the Association. We're balancing that charge with the need to respect the interests of individual schools and safeguards in the infractions process. That balance helps us separate substantiated reports from widely-publicized rumors that our investigations demonstrate are not true.
To those ends, the enforcement staff is actively investigating potential abuses of NIL transactions and we'll allege any substantiated concerns as soon as possible. We also constantly review new reports of tampering, recruiting inducements, impermissible benefits, impermissible recruiters and other related behaviors. We engage across the membership and pursue actionable leads aggressively. As member schools know, our focus is not on targeting student-athletes, but rather the actors who pose a threat to the integrity of college sports.
Investigations can be challenging and the enforcement staff needs help from member schools. Specific information about contacts or transactions will expedite investigations and help us secure truthful accounts. We understand why coaches and student-athletes are reluctant to provide documentary evidence and details on the record, but it's critically important in our effort to protect compliant programs. Candidly, we need these materials because too many NIL arrangements are not made in the sunshine and getting accurate information is difficult. Individuals should contact the enforcement staff directly and any information can be provided anonymously.
As enforcement works on behalf of member schools and student-athletes, we ask for your help in return. Together we can root out unfair behaviors while encouraging healthy NIL opportunities.
Stan Wilcox
Executive Vice President of Regulatory Affairs
Jon Duncan
Vice President of Enforcement
