NCAA satisfied with ISU sanctions

Editor's note: An initial post of this story incorrectly identified Iowa State basketball coach Fred Hoiberg. This was modified at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 6, 2013.

AMES - The NCAA's Committee on Infractions today released its final report regarding its investigation into “inadvertent and impermissible phone and text messages” Iowa State self-reported nearly two years ago.

The upshot: No additional penalties beyond ones ISU already has self-imposed will be required, according to a news release from the school.

However, a two-year probation period began today and extends through Sept. 5, 2015.

There will be no scholarship reductions and no coaching suspensions despite what were termed “major” infractions across an array of sports, including men's basketball and football.

“The Committee on Infractions has concluded its work and agreed with our findings and our self-imposed penalties,” ISU Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said in a statement. “The violations were inadvertent and did not result in any competitive advantages. Our athletics staff cooperated fully with the NCAA throughout the process. We were proactive in reporting our findings and have made changes in our monitoring systems as a result.”

The phone and text messages in question occurred between 2008 and 2011.

ISU instituted self-imposed penalties in Nov. 2011, including the establishment of a two-year probationary period that is nearing its completion.

Men's basketball coach Fred Hoiberg spurred the department-wide investigation when he informed administrators he had seen former student assistant coach Keith “Lefty” Moore at a basketball tournament his son was playing in.

ISU officials then launched a probe of each sport, finding a total of 1,484 “impermissible calls” in the aforementioned three-year span. Most were found to be logging errors.

The case is now closed, according to the news release.

“Operating with integrity is a core value for our entire campus,” Iowa State President Steven Leath said in the release. “We strive to maintain the highest standards at Iowa State University and will continue to place a high emphasis on compliance and adhering to standards of the NCAA. I wish to express appreciation to Faculty Athletics Representative Tim Day and Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard and his team for their through efforts during this review. Since learning of this issue in my first month at Iowa State, I have found our staff to be extremely diligent in investigating the situation and fully cooperative with the NCAA during the entire review. Iowa State respects the enforcement process and is grateful for this resolution.”

 Find the NCAA's report here.