NCAA Denies Sampson Appeal

((HT: IndyStar))

Former Indiana University basketball coach Kelvin Sampson lost his appeal to lessen penalties levied against him for his involvement in recruiting violations, the NCAA announced today.

Sampson's punishment virtually bans him from coaching at an NCAA school for five years.

Sampson appealed the penalties in an April hearing, saying his ban was too severe and that the original committee hearing was biased against him because a date was set before the NCAA enforcement staff issued formal allegations and before it completed interviews.

The NCAA contended that the the original findings and penalties were correct.

Sampson also contended that the infractions committee misinterpreted testimony from former IU assistant coach Rob Senderoff, which led to a conclusion that Sampson knowingly participated in impermissible recruiting phone calls.

Sampson resigned as IU's coach in February 2008, taking a $750,000 buyout, after his program was accused of five major NCAA violations.

Sampson, now an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks, was found guilty of two major violations. IU was found guilty of "failure to monitor" the program, but did not appeal the ruling.