Wisconsin receives probation, $25K fine over impermissible calls to recruits

Wisconsin was placed on one year’s probation and fined $25,000 on Thursday after an NCAA investigation showed that nine coaches and staffers made impermissible phone calls to recruits in 2023.

Former defensive line coach Greg Scruggs and former director of player personnel Max Stienecker received one-year show-cause orders. Scruggs is now an assistant defensive line coach for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. Stienecker is USC’s executive director of personnel.

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell and outside linebackers/special teams coach Matt Mitchell were prohibited from having recruiting communications with high school prospects from June 15 to 21. Fickell was determined to have violated head coach responsibility rules.

A Division I Committee on Infractions hearing panel determined that a total of 139 impermissible phone calls were made to 48 prospects. Sixty of the calls lasted one minute or less.

Wisconsin’s compliance monitoring systems for phone communications uncovered the violations. The school then reported the violations in September 2023 and immediately self-imposed penalties while collaborating on the investigation with NCAA staff.

All parties determined factors leading to the violations included a new staff member’s unfamiliarity with the school’s compliance processes along with a misunderstanding of rules pertaining to recruiting calls.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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