Division I College Head Basketball Coaches Summit Convenes in Chicago

Meeting focuses on raising the moral and ethical standards of coaching profession

Chicago, Ill. (Oct. 15, 2003) - More than 300 Division I men's head basketball coaches met in Chicago today to discuss the current challenges facing their profession amidst an off-season of negative publicity and rules violations. While only a small percentage of programs and coaches have been involved in these controversial issues, Division I head coaches of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) collectively accept the responsibility of organizing a plan of action to further enhance the overall integrity of the game.

"All of our coaches are unified around an action plan to further embrace the ethical and moral standards of our profession." said Kelvin Sampson, NABC president and head coach at the University of Oklahoma. "With this solidarity, we will share the best practices of all our members and move forward advocating a new season of change and accountability."

At today's meeting, the head coaches agreed to customize a code of ethics, for both players and coaches, to fit their specific program. Many of the coaches, formally or informally, already have a code of ethics in place. These documents will be distributed to staff and current student-athletes to reinforce the head coach's commitment to upholding the moral and ethical values of their profession. The head coaches have agreed to send this code of ethics back to the association within three weeks of the summit.

In the coming weeks, the NABC will closely examine and champion rules changes that, in the spirit of accountability, continue to enhance the ethical and moral expectations of all college basketball coaches. This includes working closely with the NCAA to develop a "lack of coach control" infraction that could result from any NCAA member program under investigation.

The NABC also will review and provide recommendations on stiffer penalties for secondary recruiting violations based on the impact it has on a recruit's decision to attend one school over another. In addition, the association's Board of Directors has authorized the Ethics Committee to institute a plan to formally respond to unacceptable behavior, including penalties, which could include suspending membership rights.

Finally, the NABC today announced plans to launch a five-session professional development program mandated for all Division I assistant coaches at this year's annual Final Four convention in San Antonio. These professional development workshops will cover recruiting rules, diversity, coaching character, ethics and morals. The fifth class will be a panel of athletic directors and university presidents discussing what they look for when hiring a head basketball coach. All current Division I head coaches also will reconvene at this same convention to discuss and take action on additional recommendations from the NABC. The Ethics Committee's plan to review unacceptable behavior by coaches will also be presented.

"As Guardians of the Game, it is our responsibility to protect the integrity of the sport and those who participate in it," said Jim Haney, NABC executive director. "With these new initiatives, we continue to strengthen our commitment to upholding the Game Plan for Amateur Basketball, as well as developing programs that have a positive impact on the sport."

About the National Association of Basketball Coaches

Located in Overland Park, Kan., a suburb of Kansas City, the NABC was founded in 1927 by Phog Allen, the legendary University of Kansas basketball coach. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently claims nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men's basketball coaches. Associate memberships also are afforded to athletic directors, conference commissioners, faculty members, officials and high school coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today's student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education. Additional information about the NABC, its programs and membership can be found at www.NABC.com.

Coach Roy Williams participated in the summit and, in an interview, made the following commments about cheating and athletics:

Williams: The biggest thing after we got there was the idea of more cooperation with the NCAA in trying to be a partner and I personally like the idea of policing ourselves a bit more and having a better idea of what we should do as coaches and making sure we encourage our fellow coaches to do what’s right.

Q: Would you turn somebody in if you knew they were cheating?

Williams: Yes.

Q: Have you done it?

Williams: Yes, I’ve done it more than once and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again today.

Q: How many coaches are like you?

Williams: There are some. Not as much as I’d like. I was treated very badly because one of them became somewhat public, but I’d do it again today.

The full interview with Roy Williams can be read when you visit: http://northcarolina.theinsiders.com/2/193626.html.