NCAA coaches, Adidas exec face charges in recruiting probe

Four assistant basketball coaches at U.S. college Division I schools and a top Adidas executive were among 10 people charged Tuesday with crimes including bribery and fraud as part of a wide-ranging federal investigation into corruption in college basketball.

Coaches at Auburn, Oklahoma State, Arizona and Southern California were accused of accepting bribes for offering to steer players to preferred financial advisers, business managers and agents.

A top Adidas executive and two associates were accused of arranging illicit payments for high school stars and their families to secure athlete commitments to Adidas-sponsored schools.

And two other unnamed universities — whose descriptions in the documents match Louisville and Miami — were implicated in planning to give top basketball recruits illicit payments outlined in three complaints unsealed Tuesday.

“The picture painted by the charges brought today is not a pretty one,” said Joon Kim, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. “Coaches at some of the nation’s top programs soliciting and accepting cash bribes. Managers and financial advisers circling blue-chip prospects like coyotes. And employees of one the world’s largest sportswear companies ... secretly funnelling cash to the families of high school recruits.”

The president of the NCAA says the charges are “deeply disturbing.” Mark Emmert said the NCAA has “no tolerance whatsoever” for the behaviour alleged by federal prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors say at least three top high school basketball players were promised payments of as much as $150,000 to attend two colleges sponsored by Adidas.

Adidas says it’s unaware of any misconduct at its company but will “fully co-operate with authorities.”