NCAA Basketball Coaches Face Federal Bribery Charges

Four NCAA assistant basketball coaches are facing federal bribery charges after a three-year FBI probe.


The work of a three-year undercover operation by the FBI has resulted in yet another NCAA scandal. The probe uncovered coaches who were being paid thousands of dollars to convince NBA-bound players to sign with sports agents, financial advisers and apparel companies, and resulted in federal charges for 10 people.

Four assistant coaches, Chuck Person of Auburn University, Lamont Evans of Oklahoma State University, Tony Bland of the University of Southern California and Emanuel Richardson of the University of Arizona were identified as the coaches who will be facing charges.

The coaches are being charged with bribery conspiracy, honest services fraud conspiracy, honest service fraud, solicitation of bribes, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and Travel Act conspiracy. They each face a maximum sentence of 80 years in jail, and are set to be arraigned in New York in two weeks.

“The picture of college basketball painted by the charges is not a pretty one — coaches at some of the nation’s top programs taking cash bribes, managers and advisers circling blue-chip prospects like coyotes, and employees of a global sportswear company funneling cash to families of high school recruits,” acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim said.

Six other arrests were also made, including James Gatto, the director of global sports marketing for Adidas. The offices of ASM Sports were also raided on Tuesday.

“We have your playbook. Our investigation is ongoing. We are conducting additional interviews as we speak,” FBI assistant director Bill Sweeney said Tuesday.

While no one has been arrested at Louisville, it has been revealed that the school is also under investigation by the FBI for corruption. They’ve already been under a microscope for their escort scandal, so head coach Rick Pitino was quick to release a statement through his attorney on Tuesday.

One of the reasons Louisville is under so much scrutiny is due to the recruiting of five-star prospect Brian Bowen. Allegedly Adidas wanted to pay his family $100,000 once he went pro and was able to sign with the company.

Pitino was quoted previously about Bowen’s recruitment, saying he was just “lucky” to get him.

The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s office have established a hotline for anyone to share any information.