The NCAA has placed the USC football program on probation stemming from a violation of coaching activities.
An investigation, which USC cooperated fully with, found that a total of eight analysts for the program engaged in on and off-field coaching activities in the spring and fall of 2022 as well as the spring of 2023.
Those violations meant that the program exceeded the number of allowable coaches by six for two academic years, a violation of NCAA rules.
While head coaches are often presumed responsible for the actions of their staff, Lincoln Riley is not facing a suspension.
Why?
Well, in part, because some of these violations happened before January of 2023, where a rule change went into effect that shifted responsibilities to head coaches of the program. Since he was not personally involved in the violations, and he cooperated with the investigation, he is not facing discipline like a suspension.
Back in June the NCAA Division I council approved a rule change allowing all football staff members to provide coaching instruction during practice and games, removing the restriction USC is being disciplined for here that previously allowed a maximum of 11 "countable" coaches.
"Moving forward, any staff member may provide technical and tactical instruction to student-athletes during practice and competition," the NCAA shared at the time.
The full release from the NCAA reads:
Violations occurred in the Southern California football program when the program exceeded the allowable number of coaches over two academic years, according to an agreement released by the Division I Committee on Infractions. As a result of the violations, the parties also agreed that football head coach Lincoln Riley violated head coach responsibility rules.
Violations occurred in the Southern California football program when the program exceeded the allowable number of coaches over two academic years, according to an agreement released by the Division I Committee on Infractions. As a result of the violations, the parties also agreed that football head coach Lincoln Riley violated head coach responsibility rules.
Finally, the enforcement staff and school agreed that the school promptly investigated the violations when notified and worked collaboratively with the enforcement staff to resolve the case. The parties also agreed that the school appropriately educated and monitored the football program and that the analysts were aware of the rules but occasionally exhibited lapses in judgment.
The parties used ranges identified by the Division I membership-approved infractions penalty guidelines to agree upon Level II-mitigated penalties for the university and Riley. The decision contains the full list of penalties as approved by the Committee on Infractions, including:
- One year of probation.
- A $50,000 fine.
- A restriction for the special teams analyst from practice and film review for six consecutive days during two weeks of the 2024-25 season.
- A restriction for the remaining analysts from practice and film review for six consecutive days during four weeks of the 2024-25 season.
- A reduction in countable athletically related activities for the football program by 24 hours during the 2023-24 season (self-imposed by the school).