In the world of athletic
compliance, one will hear the phrase “lack of institutional control” thrown
about. This phrase is usually directed at a coach, administrator, or program
who has failed to promote an atmosphere of honesty and compliance. NCAA Bylaw 6.01.1
states “Administrative control or faculty control, or a combination of the two,
shall constitute institutional control.”
This past week, Ron English, head
football coach at Eastern Michigan University was fired. He was not let go
because he failed to promote an environment of compliance, or for his record,
(1-8). He was fired because a tape recording
of him degrading and verbally abusing his players found its way to the Eastern
Michigan Athletic Director’s desk. The
athletic director promptly stepped in and issued a statement informing the
media and Eastern Michigan supporters of Coach English’s soon departure. For a
university stance, he also stated: “Primary interest is in the well-being and
success of our student-athletes and this will continue to be our priority in
every decision.”
As a compliance officer, I would
like to thank the administration at EMU for playing the role that they did and
for proving that they have not lost institutional control. A sole individual’s
unethical transgressions can portray an image of misconduct within an
institution. “Absolutely unacceptable” is a term that should be used to
describe every situation of this nature.
See image and a link to the audio
below:
I commend EMU for taking this step and standing up for what universities claim to do but rarely do. It seems like coaches, administration and players are constantly being given a slap on the wrist just because of who they are or how much revenue they bring into the university. I hope and believe that you as a compliance officer will always do what the university and the NCAA preach.
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