The men’s and women’s swim programs from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City, New Jersey have been given two years of probation, among other punishments, after a former head coach was found in violation of NCAA ethical conduct rules and not promoting an atmosphere of compliance.
While the coach was not specifically named in the NCAA infraction report, the head coach during that time period was Mohamed Abdelaal, who is currently a coach at nearby Scarlet Aquatics.
Read the full infraction report here.
The decision, issued by an NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions panel, focus on ineligible participation and payment for work not performed for the program.
The agreed-upon violations centered on the institution’s men’s and women’s swimming programs and fell into four categories:
(1) ineligible participation and/or receipt of actual and necessary expenses;
(2) the former head men’s and women’s swimming coach’s involvement with an outside team;
(3) the arranging for payment for work not preformed; and
(4) the former head men’s and women’s swimming coach’s unethical conduct and failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance.
More specifically, the coach was found to have permitted four ineligible student-athletes to practice, compete, and/or receive scholarship money, including after the institution instructed him to cease their participation.
In addition to those participation violations, it was found that during the 2013-2014 academic year, 7 student-athletes were allowed to submit additional workhours that weren’t supported by documentation; 5 of those athletes were found to actually receive excessive payments.
The former head coach was also cited for failing to cooperate with the investigation.
The list of penalties, per the NCAA:
- Public reprimand and censure for the university.
- Two years of probation for the university from Feb. 2, 2016, through Feb. 1, 2018.
- A five-year show-cause order for the former head coach from Feb. 1, 2016, through Feb. 1, 2021. If he seeks employment at an NCAA member school, he and the school must appear before the Committee on Infractions.
- A vacation of records in which student-athletes participated while ineligible. The university will identify the games impacted following the release of the public report.
- A $5,000 fine (self-imposed by the university).
During the time period in question, St. Peter’s qualified their first ever swimmer for the Men’s NCAA Championship meet, Lovro Bilonic who qualified in the 100 breast in 2011.