The NCAA has announced sanctions against former Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon and the university for providing inside information to a gambler who bet against the Crimson Tide in a game last spring. Bohannon failed to participate in the NCAA’s investigation into suspicious betting on an Alabama-LSU baseball game on April 28, 2023. He received a 15-year show-cause order, and any NCAA institution that hires him must suspend him for the first five seasons. The university received three years of probation, a $5,000 fine, and is required to provide comprehensive gambling education to student-athletes, coaches, and athletics administrators.
Bohannon messaged a bettor, later identified as Bert Eugene Neff, with inside information about an Alabama baseball game. Neff attempted to place a $100,000 bet but was limited to $15,000 by the sportsbook. Neff pleaded guilty to federal obstruction charges related to the investigation and is facing up to 10 years in prison. The Indiana Gaming Commission and the Ohio Casino Control Commission have announced plans to ban Neff from their gaming institutions.
The NCAA emphasized the importance of the integrity of games and stated that unethical behavior by coaches, student-athletes, and administrators who have access to valuable information for betting purposes is unacceptable. Vince Nicastro, the Big East’s deputy commissioner, expressed concern over Bohannon’s actions and stressed the expectation of honesty and sportsmanship from NCAA members. Neff’s attorney stated that his client only placed one bet on the game, but federal authorities have indicated otherwise. Neff plans to appeal his ban from the gaming institutions in Indiana and Ohio.
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