USC started background checks after NCAA probation

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ South Carolina's athletic department started criminal background checks on prospective coaches and administrators a few months after the NCAA placed the Gamecocks football program on three years probation.

The measure was among several corrective actions University President Andrew Sorensen outlined to the NCAA Committee on Infractions in a letter dated Aug. 15, 2006, released Monday by the university after a request by The Associated Press.

The letter was part of yearly updates required by the NCAA during the probationary period, which ended for South Carolina's football team last Friday.

South Carolina was penalized after the NCAA found 11 violations, five of them major, that occurred during the tenure of ex-football coach Lou Holtz. Holtz was not named in any of the infractions.

As part of the school's summary disposition report sent to the NCAA committee, South Carolina said it would "perform detailed background checks on all new coaching staff members and athletics department administrators. The institution will utilize the Southeastern Conference and NCAA national office staff to check on potential employee's histories relative to NCAA compliance and will utilize outside resources to perform criminal background checks as necessary," the letter said.

Sorensen wrote that the "institution now performs detailed background checks."

The summary disposition report was prepared by South Carolina officials and the NCAA's enforcement staff.

University spokesman Russ McKinney said the school changed its guidelines in February 2006 to increase the potential employees subject to the checks. He said the move was not spurred by NCAA violations.

McKinney said coaches and athletic assistants are among those given complete checks. "Usually, its done if someone is working around money, students, things like that," McKinney said.

South Carolina's athletic department has made several high-profile hires this year, including defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson for the football team and both of its basketball head coaches, Darrin Horn for the men and Dawn Staley for the women.

In addition to the probation, the NCAA docked the football team two scholarships and six paid campus recruit visits for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 academic years.

South Carolina athletic director Eric Hyman, hired after the NCAA's investigation, said thorough background checks are part of doing business these days. "I don't know anybody who doesn't do them," he said.

Clemson athletic spokesman Tim Bourret said that school has performed comprehensive background checks for prospective coaching and administrative hires for several years.

Hyman credited assistant athletic director Jennifer Stiles with solidifying the department's compliance office and Gamecocks football coach Steve Spurrier for his vigilance in following NCAA rules.

Sorensen's 2006 letter to the NCAA detailed several other measures taken to make sure South Carolina complies with the governing body's rules. Those included improved monitoring of tutors' sessions with athletes, having prospects sign a document detailing their campus visit, and a restructuring of the athletic department's compliance department.

Sorensen, who is retiring as university president, wrote to Elworth again last week as required to re-certify that South Carolina's practices conformed to NCAA guidelines.

Sorensen said the school "addressed diligently the corrective actions set forth" in its summary disposition report.

"The University will remain vigilant in its efforts to ensure full compliance with NCAA and Southeastern Conference legislation," he said.