Report: Clint Hurtt Has Been Contacted By The NCAA

Bruce Feldman of CBS Sports claims a source has informed him that Louisville associate head coach Clint Hurtt has been contacted by the NCAA regarding his involvement in the violations that occurred at the University of Miami while Hurtt on staff as the recruiting coordinator.

Yahoo! Sports conducted an 11-month investigation reporting that former Miami booster Nevin Shaprio, who is now incarcerated for his role in a $930 million Ponzi scheme, told Yahoo! Sports he provided thousands of impermissible benefits to at least 72 athletes from 2002 through 2010.

Clint Hurtt was the recruiting coordinator at Miami from 2007-2009. Shapiro claims that he established a very close relationship with Hurtt and he was the liaison that kept Shaprio involved wi the recruits who were interested in Miami. Shaprio claims that Hurtt would bring prospects to Shaprio’s mansion while they visiting the University of Miami. On these visits Shaprio would make the sales pitch to the recruits on why they should attend Miami.

Hurtt and former Miami basketball coach Frank Haith, who is now the coach at Missouri were two names that were mentioned quite a bit in Yahoo’s report. The NCAA is expected to notify Haith of allegations of “unethical conduct and failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance” stemming from his time as coach at Miami, according to a report by CBSSports.com. Many are speculating that Hurtt will be the next person that the NCAA comes after.

Here is an excerpt from the initial Yahoo report with claims if NCAA violations committed by Clint Hurtt.

According to summary documents acquired by Yahoo! Sports, Shapiro told federal agents in taped interviews that on two occasions, he paid for Hurtt to bring large groups of Hurricanes football recruits to dinner at Miami Beach restaurant Café Grazie.

Also according to summary documents acquired by Yahoo! Sports, Shapiro told federal agents in taped interviews that he provided Hurtt an interest-free loan of $5,000 – one $2,500 cash payment and one $2,500 check. Shapiro said during his interviews with federal agents that Hurtt did repay the loans. However, Shapiro said he knew it was an NCAA violation to provide interest-free loans to coaches.

On a Friday night in 2008, Shapiro said Hurtt arranged to bring three Miami recruits – Andre Debose, Ray-Ray Armstrong and Dyron Dye – to Shapiro’s $6 million Miami Beach mansion for the purposes of the booster recruiting the players. Then-wide receivers coach Aubrey Hill also attended the players’ visit to Shapiro’s home.

During his Friday night recruiting pitch, Shapiro took Hurtt, Hill, Debose, Armstrong and Dye through his mansion, stopping at one point to showcase a specially built closet filled with game-worn college and NFL jerseys of former Hurricanes greats. After the tour of the house, Shapiro took the three players for a drive on Alton Road in his $200,000 Mercedes S65.

Shapiro said Hurtt was also on hand when he entertained Debose, Armstrong and Dye in his mansion. Shapiro said another recruit, Olivier Vernon, was also on hand. He said Vernon’s visit to the booster’s home was also arranged by Hurtt.

First and foremost there honestly is no excusing what Clint Hurtt did while at Miami. There is no doubt that his actions were huge NCAA violations. With that said, Hurtt has never been accused of doing anything wrong since he’s been hired at Louisville. Hurtt has also been extremely cooperative with the NCAA since the report was initially released.

Coach Strong is a loyal guy and has stood beside Clint Hurtt during all of this. You never want to jump to any conclusions, but things certainly don’t look great for coach Hurtt at the moment. I’d say it’s only a matter of time before we hear something regarding Hurtt’s future. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Strong stick behind his guy, but then again if the NCAA gets involved it will be hard for Hurtt to stick around in my opinion.