Washington Is Cited by NCAA

The NCAA cited the University of Washington for lack of institutional control Tuesday in the gambling dispute that led to the firing of former football coach Rick Neuheisel.

The NCAA found that Neuheisel and others broke rules against gambling but did so unwittingly. The organization instead cited the university for failing to adequately educate its coaches and staff.

“The charges squarely put the responsibility for complying with NCAA rules on the university itself,” said Bob Sulkin, Neuheisel’s lawyer.

The finding is a first step toward what could be major sanctions for Washington. In cases where “lack of institutional control” is cited, the NCAA infractions committee typically imposes severe penalties.

The university issued a statement in which interim Athletic Director Dick Thompson pledged to provide any information requested by NCAA investigators. He said Washington would respond to the NCAA findings by an April 26 deadline.

“We do not believe the specific allegations cited in the notice constitute a lack of institutional control, and we will have an opportunity to explain our view to the NCAA,” Thompson said.

The case is scheduled to go before the NCAA infractions committee in June.

An NCAA spokesman declined to comment.

Neuheisel was fired last summer after he admitted taking part in off-campus auction pools with neighbors in the last two NCAA basketball tournaments.

The NCAA finding is not an outright victory for Neuheisel. A Pacific 10 Conference investigation is continuing, and he still faces a possible “show cause” sanction that would ban him from coaching in college for an undetermined period.

Neuheisel has maintained that a memo written by former Washington compliance director Dana Richardson gave him permission to take part in the pools.

Neuheisel has sued the NCAA and university over his dismissal. He has said he never took part in gambling on-campus.