Bill Self, Kansas basketball miss serious penalties in NCAA Infractions Case ruling

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Kansas basketball has avoided major penalties following a Wednesday ruling as part of an infractions case.

The NCAA’s Independent Accountability Review Process downgraded the severity of five level I allegations against the program, meaning it was judged as a Level II case. The result meant the panel gave Kansas a three-year probation, which has no effect on the program’s postseason status.

The NCAA rules violations by Kansas basketball originated from a 2017 federal investigation that found corruption in the sport. KU received a Notice of Allegations in September 2019 centered chiefly around improper payments made by a former Adidas associate to Silvio De Sousa, a KU player.

Head coach Bill Self, who was charged with a Level I violation and suspended four games last season, saw those charges downgraded to a Level III violation and no additional penalties in Wednesday's ruling. Assistant coach Kurtis Townsend, who was also suspended four games last year, also had his charges reduced from Level I to a Level II and a Level III violation, with no additional penalties.

Kansas did forfeit 15 basketball wins as a result of the panel's ruling, knocking it out of first place in all-time NCAA basketball wins for a program.

More: Kansas basketball no longer all-time NCAA wins leader: Which victories KU had to vacate

Neither coach faces a show-cause order, which could have been applicable for Level I violations.

Kansas responds to NCAA infractions rules

The school responded to the NCAA ruling with a statement, noting that it “confirms what we’ve said since the beginning: the major infractions of which we were accused were unfounded. Most importantly, the Panel decision unequivocally confirms our coaches were not involved in — or had knowledge of — payments to student-athletes.”

The statement also included the school accepting additional penalties announced in Wednesday’s decision. Those additional penalties included: vacating wins when Sousa played during the 2017-2018 campaign that equated to 15 wins during a Final Four season, Self vacating those wins from the record book and the school taking down the banners and returning trophies from 2018.

“While doing our due diligence as part of this process, we acknowledged lesser infractions for which we self-imposed penalties last fall,” the statement read. “Regarding the additional penalties announced in today’s decision, we accept them and will move forward.

“As we’ve said throughout this process, KU has one of the most robust compliance programs in the country — a point that was confirmed by the multiple comprehensive audits we’ve undertaken throughout this process. Looking ahead, we will build upon on our strong culture of compliance and continue to be a national leader in this space.”

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Kansas basketball vacates wins, no longer NCAA leader in victories

Among the penalties imposed by the IARP was that the Jayhawks must vacate 15 victories, including five in the NCAA Tournament, from the 2017-18 season. Kansas advanced to the Final Four that year before falling to Villanova in the semifinals.

The Final Four banner, and any other banners related to the vacated wins, must be removed. Kansas also has to update its record books and publicly-distributed material to reflect 15 fewer victories.

Kentucky is now officially college basketball's all-time winningest program with 2,377 victories.

Without those wins, which are reflected in Self's record as well, KU now has 2,370 all-time victories. North Carolina remains in third place with 2,343, then Duke (2,273) and Syracuse (2,074).

Self had a record of 580-132 at KU before the penalties were imposed.

Kansas basketball penalties

The IARP hearing panel said it accepted KU's self-imposed penalties for the men's basketball program, which in addition to suspending Self and Townsend for the first four games of the 2022-23 season included the following:

• A financial penalty of $5,000 plus 1% of the men's basketball budget.
• A reduction of scholarships totaling three over the course of the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years.
• Reduction in total official visits permitted in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years.
• A six-week ban on recruiting communications with all men's basketball prospects for 2022-23.
• A six-week ban on unofficial visits in 2022-23.
• A 14-day reduction in the number of recruiting person days for 2022-23.
• Prohibiting the men's basketball staff from hosting any official visits during the 2022 Late Night event.

Kansas football self-imposed penalties

While the basketball case garnered the most national interest, KU football was also sanctioned. The IARP hearing panel also accepted the following self-imposed penalties for the KU football program:

• Two-week suspensions of individuals who committed violations.
• Letters of reprimand.
• Education of the entire football program.
• Compliance continuing to be present at all football practices.
• All noncoaching staff continuing to wear identifiable clothing.

Kansas athletics probation

The Kansas men's basketball program was placed on three years' probation running from Oct. 11, 2023, to Oct. 10, 2026. During that time, all compliance staff and men's basketball staff will be required to attend NCAA Rules Seminars in each year of the probation period:

• The compliance staff shall share and disseminate information in learned with other members of the athletics department, including coaches.
• Information regarding rules seminars attendance and the dissemination of information learned shall be included in the institution's compliance report.
• By April 1, 2024, 2024 and 2026, Kansas shall file with the NCAA Office of the Committees on Infractions a plan outlining who will attend the Regional Rules Seminars and how information learned will be distributed to other members of the compliance office.
• KU must inform all men's basketball prospective recruits in writing that the institution is on probation for three years, detailing the violations. If the recruit takes an official paid visit, such information must be provided in advance of the visit or otherwise provided before the prospect signs a letter of intent.
• KU must publicize specific and understandable information concerning the nature of the infractions by providing, at a minimum, a statement to include the type of violations and the affected programs and a direct, conspicuous link to the public infractions report located on the athletic department's main web page. The information also must be included in media guides and alumni publications.
• KU must file with the Office of the Committees on Infractions annual compliance reports regarding the implementation of the prescribed penalties and educational efforts for the athletics staff, including men's basketball coaches, by Oct. 1 during each year of probation.

Arne Green contributed to this report.