Southern Illinois Swimming & Diving Given Probation For NCAA Violations

Photo Courtesy: Southern Illinois Athletics

Southern Illinois University did not monitor its women’s swimming and diving program and the conduct of the diving coach, according to a Division I Committee on Infractions panel, the NCAA announced Friday. Diving coach Chunhua Zhao conducted and arranged impermissible tryouts and lessons for prospects and two international student-athletes before and after they enrolled at the university, according to the report.

In addition, the head swimming and diving coach both failed to monitor the diving coach and did not promote an atmosphere of compliance. The head coach was aware the diving coach provided the lessons to the two student-athletes, but he did not consult with compliance to determine whether the instruction was allowed under NCAA rules, according to the report. The impermissible diving lessons resulted in recruiting and eligibility violations, and the student-athletes competing while ineligible.

The panel used the Division I membership-approved infractions penalty guidelines to prescribe the following measures:

  • Three years of probation from Sept. 7, 2018, through Sept. 6, 2021.
  • A one-year show-cause order for the head coach. Southern Illinois suspended the head coach for one competition in the fall of 2017. In addition to that suspension, the head coach must be suspended for six days of competition (30 percent of the maximum allowed dates of competition) during the 2018-19 academic year.
  • A three-year show-cause order for the diving coach. Southern Illinois suspended the diving coach for two competitions during the 2017-18 academic year. In addition to that suspension, the diving coach must be suspended for five days of competition during each of the 2018-19 through 2020-21 academic years.
  • A vacation of records in which student-athletes competed while ineligible. The university will provide a written report containing the matches impacted to the NCAA media coordination and statistics staff within 45 days of the public decision release.
  • A reduction in the number of women’s swimming and diving scholarship equivalencies to no more than 10.85 during the 2019-20 through 2021-22 academic years.
  • Recruiting restrictions for the women’s swimming and diving program each year of probation, including a limit of 12 official visits each year; a six-week ban on recruiting communication each year; and a six-week off-campus recruiting ban.
  • Attendance by the head coach and diving coach at an NCAA Regional Rules Seminar in 2018 and 2019 (self-imposed by the university).
  • A $5,000 fine

Read the full NCAA report here.

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Mary Pohlmann
5 years ago

So sorry to hear this

Lori Senerius McNamara

Jean Hill. Sad

Greg Simmon
5 years ago

Didn’t the men’s program get nailed a couple years ago and disband their program?

Mary Pohlmann
Mary Pohlmann
5 years ago
Reply to  Greg Simmon

No, Southern Illinois University still has a men’s swimming and diving program, but it is not in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Mary Pohlmann
Mary Pohlmann
5 years ago

According to the NCAA report, this is SIU’s second major, Level I or Level II infractions case. Its only prior case occurred in 1985 and involved the men’s basketball program.

Raquel Casswell
5 years ago

Maddy Casswelll

Nancy Petrick
5 years ago

Riley Petrick

Sarah Dittmer
5 years ago

Jill Anna have you seen this?!

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