Northridge coach tied to alleged rule violations
Former North Carolina State men’s basketball coach Mark Gottfried was “presumed responsible” and “did not demonstrate” that he monitored compliance by an assistant coach who is accused of providing payments and benefits to the recruitment of one-and-done player Dennis Smith Jr. , the NCAA said Wednesday.
Gottfried is now the head coach at Cal State Northridge.
The NCAA charged North Carolina State with four violations. The school said that its notice of allegations was received Tuesday, and has 90 days to respond. The notice includes four serious charges, with two that are potential top-level charges. The NCAA alleges that from 2014 to 2017, former assistant Orlando Early provided Smith and his associates about $46,700 in impermissible inducements and benefits — including $40,000 that a government witness testified he delivered to Early intended for Smith’s family in 2015.
The NCAA also accuses Gottfried of failing to monitor the program’s pass list, leading to a total 164 impermissible complimentary admissions to games. The notice indicates the NCAA’s hearing panel could levy showcause penalties against Gottfried and Early.
The Wolfpack went 15-17 during Smith’s one season on the team in 2016-17, and the school fired Gottfried late during that season. Smith, a point guard with the New York Knicks, is entering his third season in the NBA.
Scott Tompsett, a Kansas City, Mo.-based attorney who represents Gottfried along with Raleigh’s Elliot Abrams, said in a statement Wednesday night that his client is disappointed that the allegations have been brought against N.C. State and takes them seriously. “While we disagree with the enforcement staff ’s position that Coach Gottfried did not adequately monitor certain aspects of his program, we are pleased that the NCAA agrees that he was not involved in any illicit payments,” Tompsett said.
Cal State Northridge spokesman Nick Bocanegra issued a statement on behalf of the school that said it is aware of N.C. State’s notice and that Gottfried told school officials that he was not involved in, or had knowledge of, any NCAA rules violations — an affirmation that is a condition of his employment. career that included three Stanley Cup titles. The 42 yearold won a Cup with Carolina in 2006 and then consecutive titles with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017. Cullen had 266 goals and 465 assists over 1,516 games with the then-Mighty Ducks, Florida, Carolina, the New York Rangers, Ottawa, Minnesota, Nashville and Pittsburgh . ... Forward Micheal Ferland signed a four-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks.
The Dallas Mavericks signed Seth Curry to complete the guard’s return after a year away and re-signed one of their restricted free agents in forward Maxi Kleber . ... The Philadelphia 76ers completed the signings of forwards Tobias Harris and former Boston Celtics standout Al Horford.