Former Northern Arizona coach Mike Adras violated multiple NCAA and university regulations before he resigned in December, according to documents received by the Arizona Daily Sun.
The Flagstaff, Ariz., newspaper reported that an internal investigation also described a climate of "extreme fear" among players and assistant coaches if Adras were to learn they were cooperating with the probe.
Public records released by NAU to the Daily Sun documented the internal investigation of Adras conducted last summer by athletic director Jim Fallis. Fallis concluded that Adras was responsible for multiple violations regarding basketball practice by the Lumberjacks, as players signed inaccurate time sheets to keep the permitted practice time within NCAA limits, according to the documents.
Another NCAA infraction was allowing a booster to attend a meal at Adras' house while recruits were present.
There are large portions of the released documents blacked out, including dates and names of parents sending e-mails to the NAU administration. NAU officials say the redactions are needed to comply with federal student privacy laws.
But the correspondence, which included Fallis, NAU President John Haeger and executive vice president MJ McMahon, details Adras' alleged transgressions.
One parent described an instance involving the Lumberjacks recording 1 hour and 58 minutes on their practice log although the practice actually lasted 3 hours and 10 minutes.
"Players repeatedly provide their signatures on inaccurate or purposely misleading documentation that does not align with NCAA rules and regulations," the parent wrote. "Players are not pushing back on signing this paperwork due to the consequences they feel they may incur from the coaching staff."
In a letter sent from Fallis to Adras, the NAU athletic director admonished Adras for the violations.
"It is my belief that as head men's basketball coach you were aware of and involved in situations that involved athletically related activities that should have been countable under NCAA practice limitations but were not entered into appropriate practice logs," Fallis wrote.
The men's basketball team also recorded inaccurate per diem expense sheets, which document funds issued to them to be used during traveling.
Adras resigned on Dec. 6 and received the remainder of his $120,000 annual salary and a letter of thanks from Haeger for his service to NAU. Fallis was named last week one of four finalists for the job of athletic director at Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D.
