Lady Vols suspend soccer coach for season opener : govolsxtra.com

The University of Tennessee has fined women's soccer coach Angela Kelly and suspended her for one game for using an ineligible athlete in an indoor tournament in February.

Kelly was fined $500 and suspended from the first regular-season game of the fall 2008 season.

UT's discipline was outlined in a March 4 letter to the SEC office that was obtained by the News Sentinel through the Freedom of Information Act.

The name of the athlete was removed from the letter. According to the letter from women's assistant athletic director Todd Dooley, the athlete played her fourth and final season in 2007. The athlete failed to meet the NCAA Credit-Hour Requirements during the fall semester.

Kelly assumed the athlete could compete in a spring tournament while academically ineligible because she had completed her eligibility, the letter said.

The athlete played during an indoor tournament at Tusculum College in Greeneville.

According to the letter, during a conversation with another ineligible player, the athlete became aware a violation may have occurred and reported to her academic counselor. She was then directed to the compliance office.

In addition to the fine and suspension, Kelly received an official reprimand.

UT requested to the SEC that the violation be deemed Level I Secondary in nature.