South Carolina reports six NCAA violations during 2023 calendar year
South Carolina’s athletics department reported six NCAA violations in 2023, according to documentation obtained by The State through an open records request.
That’s down from the eight violations reported by the school in 2022.
All of USC’s reported violations for 2023 were classified as Level III, the lowest level possible by NCAA standards. The NCAA describes Level III violations as:
▪ Isolated or limited in nature.
▪ Providing no more than a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage.
▪ Providing no more than a minimal impermissible benefit.
The South Carolina equestrian team was the only university program that committed more than one violation (2). The Gamecocks’ baseball, softball, men’s soccer and women’s track and field teams each committed a single violation, according to the documentation.
Also of note: After having three violations in 2022, the South Carolina football program did not report a single violation in 2023.
In the documents released to The State, no names were included of any of the athletes, recruits or coaches associated with the violations.
The following is a full list of the report and the subsequent penalties along with the internal action and, when applicable, measures taken by the Southeastern Conference or NCAA. Listed dates are when the violation was submitted by USC.
BASEBALL
Nov. 21, 2023 — “A student freelance photographer hired by the Athletics Department posted two photographs of prospective student-athletes prior to the prospective student-athletes commitment to the institution.”
Institutional action: “Rules education provided to the student worker, entire coaching staff, all sport coaches. Further, institution will enhance internal process regarding the hiring of student workers who engage in freelance work.”
NCAA/SEC action: “SEC: Entire coaching staff may not have any telephone calls or electronic correspondence with the involved prospective student-athletes for seven days.”
SOFTBALL
Nov. 21, 2023 — “A coaching staff member conducted an impermissible tryout involving athletically related activities for enrolled students.”
Institutional action: “Letter of admonishment issued to the coaching staff member; rules education provided to the entire coaching staff and all sport coaches.”
NCAA/SEC action: School’s action accepted.
WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
Nov. 21, 2023 — “A prospective student-athlete took an official visit without being listed on the institutional request list with the Eligibility Center.”
Institutional action: “Rules education provided to entire coaching staff and all sport coaches. Further, institution will add additional steps to the official visit process to ensure documentation is received in a timely fashion prior to the start of the visit.”
NCAA/SEC action: School’s action accepted.
MEN’S SOCCER
Aug. 21, 2023 — “Strength & conditioning coach conducted voluntary workouts with use of sport specific equipment.”
Institutional action: “Student-athletes served a 2-for-1 penalty for the impermissible countable athletically related activity. Rules education provided to entire coaching staff, all sport coaches, and all strength & conditioning coaches.”
NCAA/SEC action: School’s action accepted.
EQUESTRIAN
Nov. 21, 2023 — “A prospective student-athlete took an official visit without being registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center or listed on the institutional request list with the Eligibility Center.”
Institutional action: “Rules education provided to entire coaching staff and all sport coaches. Further, institution will add additional steps to the official visit process to ensure documentation is received in a timely fashion prior to the start of the visit.”
NCAA/SEC action: School’s action accepted.
EQUESTRIAN
Nov. 28, 2023 — “Two coaching staff members had impermissible off-campus contact with two prospective student-athletes prior to the first permissible date for off-campus contact.”
Institutional action: “Letters of admonishment issued to involved staff members; rules education provided to entire coaching staff; the two coaches were prohibited from all recruiting activities for 14 days; no in-person contact (on or off campus) for 90 days with the two prospective student-athletes; 2 for 1 penalty for off-campus contact with the two prospective student-athletes (1 contact per prospect).”
NCAA/SEC action: School’s action accepted.
