UCI Coach’s High School Visits Might Be in Violation of Rules : Basketball: Baker says he was introducing himself to area coaches--not recruiting--during NCAA’s ‘quiet’ period.

Rod Baker, the new men’s basketball coach at UC Irvine, says he was trying to introduce himself to area basketball coaches by visiting some of them on their high school campuses.

But those visits, made during a “quiet” period when college coaches cannot recruit away from their own campuses, might be interpreted as violations of NCAA rules even though Baker and the high school coaches say he did not contact or evaluate any prospects.

Irvine Athletic Director Tom Ford, who said he encouraged Baker to meet area coaches and did not see an obvious conflict with the rule, said the school will investigate possible violations and report any it finds to the Big West Conference. He added that such violations probably would be considered “secondary” or minor and would be handled by the conference rather than the NCAA.

Baker, who said he believes he followed the rule as it is printed in the NCAA Manual, visited five coaches in recent weeks, including Mater Dei’s Gary McKnight and Jim McClune of St. Bernard High School in Playa del Rey.

“He came by about two weeks ago and just talked to me,” McKnight said. “He definitely didn’t talk to kids. It was more like he just wanted me to know who he is. He was very cordial. I think he was just trying to get to know me.”

Although coaches may have contact with prospects on college campuses during the “quiet” period--which began April 20 and continues until July 4--an NCAA rule states that “no in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts or evaluations may be made during the quiet period.”

Recruiting contacts, according to the manual, are defined as contact with a prospect or a prospect’s parent or guardian.

“It was just a situation where we were going around to meet people,” said Baker, saying he was careful to arrange meetings in a way that diminished the likelihood of incidental contact with players and that he did not watch tapes or seek access to academic records.

The rule does not explicitly forbid coaches to visit high school campuses.

“If the rule came out and said you may not leave campus, that’s different,” Baker said. “That’s not the way it’s written.”

The NCAA, acknowledging that the scenario involving Baker “might be a gray area” in the rule, takes a broader interpretation.

“If (any coach) is going off campus to recruit and making contact with high school coaches (during the ‘quiet’ period), I think that would be contrary to the legislation,” said Richard Evrard, NCAA director of legislative services.

“What is the purpose of going and talking to the coach?” Evrard said. “If the purpose stems from a friendship, and they’re having a Coke, that’s one thing. If (a coach) is going to meet him and establish a relationship that will help in future recruiting, then I think that’s for recruiting purposes.”

Although the rule is not specific in the NCAA Manual, the Big West distributes a recruiting calendar that lists “a visit to a prospect’s campus for any reason” as “not allowable” during a “quiet” period.

Paula Smith, Big West assistant director for compliance, said she did not know the source for that interpretation.

Baker, hired in April, said he did not have a copy of the calendar.

Baker’s visits caught McKnight and McClune somewhat by surprise, because they are not accustomed to visits from college coaches during this time of year.

“Yeah, but I didn’t think anything of it,” said McClune, saying Baker “just came by to introduce himself.

“I just assumed it must have been all right for him to come here. It’s not my job to tell college coaches when they can visit. I just try to be polite.”

Times Staff Writer Tom Hamilton contributed to this story.