Alaska Nanooks NCAA Infractions Information

On March 18, 2022, the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the NCAA announced the resolution of an infractions case involving multiple Alaska Nanooks teams between 2017 and 2021. This page is designed to share information about the infractions with student-athletes, families and members of the public.

Following are some relevant documents and communications regarding UAF’s voluntary resolution agreement with the NCAA:

Summary of NCAA Findings

The following information summarizes the NCAA’s findings and UAF’s penalties and corrective actions, as outlined in the voluntary resolution agreement. 

Division I

The NCAA issued the following findings regarding UAF’s Division I hockey team:

Finding No. 1: Between August 2018 and August 2020, hockey coaching staff coordinated free or reduced-cost housing for 18 players in the days prior to the UAF residence halls opening. The housing was with other student-athletes or local hockey supporters and the value of the housing for all 18 players totaled $2,259. As a result of these violations, eight players competed while ineligible.

Finding No. 2: Between Nov. 5, 2020 and Jan. 26, 2021, a local hockey supporter loaned a vehicle to three student-athletes because the players’ vehicle was in the shop frequently. The value of the vehicle’s use was calculated at approximately $101.

Finding No. 3: The head coach is presumed responsible for the violations in Finding No. 1, due to his help in coordinating the housing, failure to monitor staff as they arranged the housing and failure to recognize any compliance red flags.

Finding No. 4: The scope and nature of the violations in Finding No. 1 indicate that the university failed to establish adequate compliance systems, train the head coach and other staff, and monitor adherence to NCAA rules regarding housing.

Division II

The NCAA issued the following findings regarding UAF’s Division II teams:

Finding No. 1: Between the 2017-18 and 2020-21 academic years, 42 student-athletes in nine sports were improperly certified eligible for a variety of reasons:

  • The NCAA allows a grace period at the beginning of the season for all eligibility paperwork to be completed. Some student-athletes practiced or competed outside that grace period even though the university hadn’t completed their eligibility paperwork.
  • Some student-athletes practiced or competed even though they hadn’t completed required NCAA compliance forms.
  • Two student-athletes competed even though the university hadn’t added them to the official eligibility list in a second sport.
  • The university did not have a signed eligibility checklist prior to the beginning of one team’s first contest.
  • The university misinterpreted rules regarding transfer credits for two student-athletes.
 

Finding No. 2: The scope and nature of the violations in Finding No. 1 indicate that the university failed to adequately monitor its eligibility certification program and failed to have a system in place to ensure compliance with NCAA eligibility rules.

Summary of UAF penalties and corrective actions.

The following information summarizes UAF’s penalties, as outlined in the voluntary resolution agreement, as well as additional corrective action UAF has taken. 

General NCAA Penalties

The NCAA imposed the following penalties on Alaska Nanooks athletics:

  • Fine of $5,000 (Division I) and $2,500 (Division II). Total fines: $7,500
  • Public reprimand and censure
  • Division I: Two years of probation (through March 17, 2024). Division II: Three years of probation (through March 17, 2025). During probation, UAF must:
    • Develop a program to educate relevant athletics and UAF employees about NCAA requirements. Provide the NCAA with a schedule for implementing the education program and a yearly progress report.
    • Publicize the infractions and associated public documents
    • Inform recruits of the infractions and the penalties

Specific Division I (Hockey) Penalties

The NCAA imposed the following penalties on Alaska Nanooks hockey:

  • Head coach suspended from one regular season contest during the 2021-2022 academic year.
  • Two weeks of recruiting restrictions during 2021-2022 academic year
  • Vacate team records and individual records for ineligible student-athletes and head coach from contests in which ineligible student-athletes competed during the relevant years.

Specific Division II Penalties

The NCAA imposed the following penalties on Alaska Nanooks Division II sports (basketball, volleyball, rifle, cross-country, Nordic skiing, swimming):

  • Provide the NCAA with a copy of its outside audit and associated recommendations. Update the NCAA yearly regarding the status of those recommendations.
  • Athletics director and compliance staff must attend the NCAA regional rules seminars for three years. Any university staff with compliance responsibilities must attend the seminars for two years. The university must also provide documentation of the sessions that the associate athletics director for compliance attends.

UAF-initiated Corrective Actions

UAF initiated the following additional corrective actions:

  • Hired a permanent athletic director, who reports directly to the chancellor.
  • Increased athletics budget to ensure adequate staffing and manageable workload.
  • Implementing compliance software to support documentation.
  • Formed several committees and administrative teams to monitor compliance activities.
  • Contracted for a compliance blueprint review.
  • Ensured all impacted student-athletes had their eligibility reinstated for 2021-22.
  • Hired a contractor to create a sustainability plan for athletics.
  • Monthly compliance education for coaches and staff.
  • Integrated coaches into initial eligibility process.
  • Use the National Student Clearinghouse to ensure complete academic records for transfer students.