"Playing by the rules" was one of the most important characteristics Tennessee chancellor Jimmy Cheek and athletic director Mike Hamilton wanted from their new men's basketball coach.
In Cuonzo Martin, that's what they're expecting to receive. Though it isn't entirely violation free, Martin's track record indicates a history of compliance and fluid communication with his administrators when potential mishaps cropped up.
Martin's three years at Missouri State produced just two self-reported secondary violations involving the men's basketball program, according to documents obtained by the News Sentinel through an open records request.
Only one of the violations directly involved Martin and his staff and both were considered involuntary.
Martin received a letter of admonishment from Missouri State after he and members of his coaching staff observed a prospective student-athlete participating in an open gym session. NCAA bylaw 13.11.2.2 prohibits members of a coaching staff from watching a prospective athlete go through workouts while he's visiting the school.
Martin and his staff stopped recruiting the player, whose name was not provided in the documents, and he also attended a "rules education session."
Missouri State's sports information staff violated NCAA bylaw 13.10.5 when it set up interviews with five basketball players who, per NCAA legislation, still were considered to be prospective student-athletes. The sports information staff attended a rules education session with the school's compliance office.
Under former men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl, the UT men's basketball program is accused of committing 10 major NCAA violations. Since the NCAA delivered its Notice of Inquiry in September, Pearl and members of his staff committed at least two more violations. Two weeks after UT received its Notice of Allegations from the NCAA in February, Pearl and his staff provided too many tickets to a player for the regular season finale against Kentucky.
Pearl and his three assistants -Tony Jones, Steve Forbes and Jason Shay - were fired three days after the Vols were eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Martin will make $1.3 million annually over the next five years, according to the Memorandum of Understanding he signed with UT. He is eligible for a two-year extension after a 24-month review. His initial, five-year term will be extended year-for-year based upon the number of years UT receives one of the following from the NCAA: restrictions on recruiting, ban on postseason play or a reduction of one or more scholarships.
Andrew Gribble may be reached at 865-342-6327. Follow him at http://twitter.com/Andrew_Gribble and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/gribble
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Comments » 126
TheVolMan writes:
The Hamilton Haters will continue their agenda. They are still bitter that Fulmer was removed and remain in denial that he had to go. Sad folks of low intelligence...
orangeJACKET writes:
FIRST!!!!!
orangeJACKET writes:
DANG IT! YOU MUST HAVE JUST BEATEN ME. first revoked.
huntined#565710 writes:
At least he didn't have a BAR-B-QUE
RaineyVol writes:
you are dumb!
vut56#231073 writes:
Fire Hamilton!
Of course, the fine print of this story make it a non story. These "involuntaery" (words of KNS) incidents seem not worthy of mention, other than cast a negative cloud over this coach, his hire and our university for hiring him. It serves no other purpose.
There have been those who seem to feel we should have compelled Coach K, Williams, or a host of other present greats to accept the UT job. When the same non-stories surfaced about them, as it most surely could have, would the same article have appeared? News is news but an always negative slant gets tiresome. That, plus a third of the article rehashed the Pearl missteps. Have we not had enough?
VolunteerLifer writes:
I disagree. In the current atmosphere, we need to do our due diligence about anyone hired by this AD. I'm glad KNS looked into this and reported on it. It helps reassure me that Martin is clean, and that is a relief.
flatrock writes:
Again, the headline does not fit the story. Bush-league headline.
JimmyJoe writes:
Terrible headline.... Sounds like he runs a clean program to me.... Does anyone know how this compares to the average program out there?
eduardo writes:
aka fulmerites...dont kid yourself people they are real and they are on the loose!
shtooo (Inactive) writes:
This headline is VERY misleading... it sounds like these were accidental and that Martin did more than he had to to make it right
BillsBrother writes:
Hamilton has done plenty since December 1, 2008 to merit his own dismisal. Pull your own head out of the sand.
kantanuuv writes:
UT's high dollar boosters breathe a sigh of relief. An incorruptible coach is no fun at all.
Heh heh. Nah I'm just kiddin' ya. I'm sure he's clean.
TommyJack writes:
Weak sauce.
winVol writes:
FIRE HAMILTON LOOKS LIKE HAMILTON CANT GET RIGHT ,ON SECOND THOUGHT FIRE ALL OF THEM AT UT AND START OVER ,,,,GBO
Laydbakvol writes:
I am quickly losing any respect I had for the media. Contributors to this site in particular. They seem to excel at trying to make something out of nothing.
keepitreal4vols writes:
Hey Gribble, Your story will be what my puppy gets to use for potty training while I'm at work. Be proud, you wrote someting worth a sh__.
orangepeel writes:
I could care less about Hamilton firing Fulmer. Hamilton needs to needs fired because of one blunder after another.Fire Hamilton now.
VolsFanInAfghanistan writes:
I have to agree that the headlines are a bit misleading. How has it become that when a reporter writes something we just flock to it without doing our own due diligence. Unbelievable on our part. Our sports programs will bounce back for sure, we as fans need to just let it all unfold and be supportive of these kids.
VFL00 writes:
1.3 million a year?!?! Couldn't get him any cheaper? I realize he was the 6th best option but we couldn't cut a deal?
VolsFanInAfghanistan writes:
And on another note to all this, who has time to read every single rule that the NCAA sets down for all the coaches to be aware of? I'm not picking a side, but recording a potential student athlete working out is a rule breaker, the "bump rule", I mean I understand the reasons why those rules are in place but really. Coaches are dealing with a lot of unsavory parents who are looking at their kids as meal tickets and a way to fame and fortune, so it's understandable that a coach will look to his staff to have his back and interpret the rules and by-laws that the NCAA sets down, but good lord. How about someone investigate some of these parents as well.
everydayisorange writes:
I have come to the conclusion that some on the KNS staff have a negative agenda towards UT! Never in my life have I saw so many negative articles about a local college and it's sport teams. I think it is about time Mr. Lail should take a long look at his staff and make some changes! I know this wont happen, but one can dream. I long for the days of the Knox Journal! A real newspaper!
TheREALFightSong writes:
Wow, this is deplorable. Does the KNS really need to make a mountain out of a molehill with that headline? Incredibly misleading and low-brow journalism. Please, like a respectable publication, match the context of the headline with the context of the story. Shouldn't that be one of the first rules of journalism?
Despite the issues with the headline, the information in the article was new to me, so it's good to see that Martin was respectable and compliant once these minor violations happened. Hope he continues to do the same here at UT!
rocky_topper writes:
This is a huge step forward for our basketball program. Can't wait!
rocky_topper writes:
Great hire by Gator Cheek and the Ham!
dislikethemtrolls writes:
So..............Who did we beat in the "1st" round of the tournament? Hmmm??????
IrritatedVol writes:
"Sad folks of low intelligence..."
And you base this on what exactly? Hamilton's track record speaks for itself. He has nothing to base a defense upon, and you certainly offer nothing yourself, unsurprisingly. Who's the one showing low intelligence?
You know, it never ceases to amaze me, but some so-called Vol fans seem willing to support a one footed chicken if UT (& especially Hamilton) hired it to coach one of UT's teams. Idiots!
VOLDoll writes:
It seems as if coach Martin does play by the rules and as all of you know the previous coaching staff was as crooked as it gets.
Coach Martin here is hoping you great success here at UT and please keep it real because true Vol fans are just getting over the stench that was Bruce Pearl.
Go Vols!
BobKesling_is_overpaid writes:
The main problem is the NCAA and their ridiculous rules. I could see canning a coach over paying players or giving physical gifts like cars, but a bbq? And oh my goodness, watching a prospect workout? Those are serious moral issues. Not. There was probably more freedoms granted to people under the old soviet eastern bloc countries than what the NCAA gives to coaches. All in the name of "fairness". The ncaa must be run by liberals.
HHUUMMBBLLEE writes:
FIRE HAMILTON
shipperman#280095 writes:
Not really, he is just telling it like it is here.
lvhemphill#250428 writes:
Who cares, winning is more important than trying the more impossible, that being 100% complient to a NCAA rulebook that is writen in so much code and double speak it is impossible to follow. So my conclusion is don't even try to follow it at all.
CarlChilders writes:
Too many rules. NCAA = US Govt.
slambob2#228938 writes:
I have been critical of Hamilton, though I have to acknowledge that he has built a powerfully attractive foundation for UT sports to recruit and be successful. The chaos, in my opinion, should never happen - and it has been consistent on his watch. I'll let the Chancellor decide where to go with that. I do deeply respect the way Mike Hamilton's family represents the community.
For Coach Pearl, God Bless you for the contribution you made to UT basketball. I don't know who else could have promoted it better, or brought the expectation of greatness the way you did.
Coach Martin, I'm behind you 100% and I look forward to seeing the man that impressed Mike Hamilton and the rest of the UT family enough to bet the future on you.
Always Orange, Slambob
VOLliven2it writes:
My no. 1 question is: did he lie to the NCAA about it?(joke) Now we will hear every time a coach fails to turn off a light. Give us a break!
Down_The_Field writes:
well, i guess it doesn't take long for the KNS staff to start tearing down the new coach.
GreerVol22 writes:
cheap shot gribble. any clown can write a shock and awe story. it must be time for your annual review and you need Adams to bless your raise. Suck up.
jimr07 writes:
disagree. you are.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
I read this stuff a lot that KNS puts out..very little basketball on here. But you are correct. I don't have to read it and I don't have to "share my thoughts". But I wish that KNS would do articles about the team occasionally...the coaches won't actually ever play a game. However I've noticed that when they have an article concerning players (like when Harris made all american)the posters do not respond much. I guess we like the"gossip" better? Especially the visiting bloggers(trolls).
GOBIGO72 writes:
Change the headline - Gribble Double Dribbles - Now go sit on the bench until Adams says its time to hit the shower.
al2476 writes:
Souinds as though are a hater as well. Coach Fulmer produced a National Championship. Enough said !!
volsfan74 writes:
This is HUGE news... NOT! And yes I am extremely ticked off that we didn't go to Chapel Hill and flash all of our National Championships in front of Roy Williams so he could see what he was missing by not coming to UT we should have offered him 17,000,000 per year and agreed to take Coach Summitt's name off the floor and rename it "Roy's Floor" and while we were at it we could go ahead and rename TBA "Williams Arena". Would that make some of you ignorant posters happy?
uttcut writes:
It's all about drawing the reader in. I'm big on reading headlines for my news, as there is usually more going on in the world then I have time to read all about. When the headline deceives, its a disservice to the reader. Bottom line, is it's about the...bottom line.
OldVols68 writes:
NCAA rules are a joke sometimes?!?!
asmith writes:
dumb article. you can tell that no major sports are going on right now.
volaholic45 writes:
I don't like the contract extension provision based on NCAA sanctions - seems to me that it neutralizes the effect of the NCAA perhaps not wanting to punish the new minority coach for the perp coach's crimes. The NCAA can reason, "For every year of our hammer, the new guy who we like gets a million bucks plus out of it, so what the hey - plus we get to make an example of UT and maybe instill a little fear in the big boys." If they needed a provision like that to sign Martin, they should have at least kept it strictly confidential until the NCAA had ruled. Another Hamilton screw up?
82cat writes:
headline:(scary)
"Records show two violations at Missouri State under Cuonzo Martin's watch."
1st sentence 3rd paragraph:(fact)
"Martin's three years at Missouri State produced just two self-reported secondary violations"
Wonder why newspapers are losing subscribers and going broke, could it be non sense like this.
RoadTrip writes:
Totally agree. First it isn't a story. Second, if you are going to create something out of nothing at least get it right. It should say that CCM was so successful at MSU that he only had two minor, secondary violations in 3 years.
Good ole KNS yellow journalism.
orangepeel writes:
We were never going to get Roy Williams, Jamie Dixon, or Jay wright. Anyone who thought this is crazy. The hiring of Coach Martin was rushed. Hamilton could have waited another week and inquired about Stevens and or Smart. If they had declined we could have still hired Martin. I also do not believe for one second that Hamilton offer3d Xavier's coach 2mil per year for 8 yrs either. Having said that Hamilton needs to be fired today. before he totally destroys men's athletics at UT. I here we will have a opening for baseball coach at the end of the season as well.
OldNumber7 writes:
...(finish the story why don't you)...then, when at the top of his game, let the program erode and fail over the next 10 years. How you go from Champion to irrelevant should be, and is enough to get you riffed (too much good-ol-boy networking going on and not enough "doing what's right for Tennessee").
Martin's record is excellent as demonstrated by the nature of these scarce incidents.
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