Iowa self-reported field hockey violations

IOWA CITY - The University of Iowa filed several self-reports with the NCAA and Big Ten Conference in recent years about minor violations connected to the field hockey program, according to records released Tuesday.

The field hockey program and Athletics Department have been under scrutiny since Aug. 4, when Iowa fired coach Tracey Griesbaum.

A monthslong university investigation found there were no policy violations, but several student-athletes alleged harassment and said they felt pressured to play injured.

A five-page memo summarizing the investigation contains a footnote about alleged NCAA violations being forwarded to the Athletics Department for consideration. The Gazette and other media outlets requested self-reports about NCAA violations.

In one document, Iowa reported a field hockey coach sending at least three emails to a high school recruit in 2006 and 2007, before the time at which coaches were allowed to contact prospective players. The school reprimanded the coach and restricted the coach from making electronic or telephone contact with recruits during the fall 2011 semester, the report states.

Iowa redacted the coach's name in the self-report. A July 18, 2011, memo from Fred Mims, associate athletics director, to Griesbaum said then-assistant coach Lisa Cellucci was placed on a yearlong probation for 'willful violations” of NCAA violations at least three times.

The memo notes Cellucci was prohibited from having communications with recruits in fall 2011.

Cellucci was promoted to interim head coach when Griesbaum was fired.

A field hockey coach, whose name was redacted, sent an impermissible text to a recruit Feb. 20, 2010, according to a May 12, 2010, self-report. The coach was admonished and prohibited from communicating with recruits for one week.

Other documents show correspondence with the Big Ten over violations that include field hockey players competing in outside competition without full permission - reported in 2011 - and several Iowa teams, including field hockey, using restricted promotional materials from 2010 to 2012.

Griesbaum, 48, was fired after 14 years as head coach. Her attorney, Tom Newkirk, said his client is considering filing a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission or filing a lawsuit for employment discrimination.

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