WSU awaits word on baseball violations

Last November, Wichita State reported violations of NCAA rules against extra benefits for baseball players and cooperated with the NCAA in its investigation. The saga, involving discounts for Under Armour apparel, hung over the program until the day of its opening game, when the NCAA notified WSU of its punishment.

Almost a year later, WSU is waiting on another step in the resolution of the investigation, although there is cautious optimism that the worst is behind the program. After the NCAA handed out penalties to athletes in February, the university and the NCAA continued to gather information to determine if institutional penalties, such as a reduction in scholarships, were warranted.

“We fully complied with everything we have been asked to comply with,” WSU athletic director Eric Sexton said. “We identified that mistakes were made. We took action. We held ourselves accountable.”

WSU is waiting on a hearing in front of a NCAA Division I infractions committee regarding the institutional penalties. Sexton said he does not know a timetable for that hearing. Baseball coach Todd Butler declined to comment.

WSU received a notice of allegations from the NCAA, signaling the end of the investigation part of the process. Sexton said the NCAA found that no person associated with WSU intentionally violated NCAA rules and no athletes were aware that their actions violated rules.

“Unintentional violations,” Sexton said.

Last November, Butler discovered that his players received discounts, as much as 50 percent, on Under Armour apparel, through an account administered by former baseball administrative assistant Shelley Wombacher. NCAA rules allow athletes to purchase items related to their sport. Under Armour supplies WSU’s baseball uniforms and other apparel. However, athletes purchased hunting gear and other non-baseball clothing. On Feb. 14, four hours before WSU’s opening game against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, the NCAA suspended eight players from three to nine games. Eight players who purchased less than $100 worth of clothing paid back the money.

The NCAA reduced WSU’s penalty in half because it self-reported the violations, Sexton said in February. The violations occurred from 2011-14.

Sexton said WSU was already in the process of changing how it managed apparel and equipment when the baseball violations were discovered. While coaches and athletes can still order clothing and gear by sport, the merchandise is recorded and distributed through WSU’s equipment personnel in Koch Arena, instead of going directly to the teams.

“We continue to be a department committed to operating within, and above, NCAA regulations,” Sexton said.

This story was originally published September 25, 2014 at 5:12 PM with the headline "WSU awaits word on baseball violations."