Thaindian News

By Madhuri Dey
Tennessee, Sep 11, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Bruce Pearl, the Tennessee Volunteers’ Basketball Coach on Friday admitted that he had provided “misleading” information to the NCAA enforcement staff in June this year during an investigation into recruiting violations. The Coach not only admitted that he did not tell truth to the investigators but also added that he felt guilty of his act and informed about it to the athletic director Mike Hamilton in July. Mike Hamilton confirmed the news and held that as a pre-emtive punishment for Bruce Pearl’s act, the team has reduced his pay by $1.5 million over five years which can go up to $2 million reportedly if he does not remain the coach of Tennessee Volunteers through 2015.

The admission from Bruce Pearl came a day after reports surfaced that the NCAA has contacted Bruce Pearl and one of his staffs about possible recruiting violations. In the month of June, Bruce Pearl was interviewed in connections to allegations that he had made excessive phone calls to recruiters. Although it is not known what Bruce Pearl told to the investigators, the coach reportedly informed his boss of his mistakes after three weeks. He held in his letter that he had done some “serious mistakes” and that he is sorry for that.

On Friday Mike Hamilton said, “People make mistakes and we all make them”. He added that he had himself made many mistakes during his career and that he is happy that Bruce Pearl has come forward to admit his. Mike Hamilton asserted that he is glad to have Bruce Pearl as the team’s basketball coach. While the NCAA is still to levy a charge against Bruce Pearl, the athletic director held that the board might bring unethical-conduct charges against Bruce Pearl.