Miami probe ends with Haith penalty

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS

Missouri coach Frank Haith was suspended for five games by the NCAA on Tuesday after it was found that he inadequately monitored his former assistants’ interactions with a disgraced Miami booster and then tried to cover up a five-figure hush money payment to keep potential violations hidden.

The Committee on Infractions report also found that Haith provided inconsistent answers during multiple interviews with investigators, including conflicting accounts of when he reported the shakedown attempt by since-imprisoned felon Nevin Shapiro to Hurricanes athletic director Paul Dee.

In a statement released by Missouri, Haith said he “strongly” disagreed with the report “and the inference on how the program was run at the University of Miami” but won’t appeal the findings. He told reporters in Columbia he plans to donate 18 days’ worth of his salary from his suspension to the Boys and Girls Club of Columbia. His base annual salary is $450,000, though he earns a guaranteed $1.6 million each year.

“I was truthful in my communication with the NCAA,” Haith said. “If I wasn’t truthful, I think I would have been hit with unethical conduct.”

Instead, the two-year NCAA investigation found that Haith, the former Hurricanes basketball coach, failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance.

Haith and Miami assistant coach Jake Morton provided Shapiro $10,000 after he threatened to expose previous improper contact with high school recruits and amateur coaches, the NCAA said.