NCAA Infractions Case: September 25, 2026
On Sept. 25, 2026, the NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions [COI] released a negotiated resolution on a case involving the MC men's basketball program.
The University self-reported the violation and, throughout the process, collaborated closely with the enforcement staff to establish facts and to enact corrective measures.
In its decision, the COI determined violations of NCAA rules occurred within the men's basketball program when former men's basketball assistant coach Sam Newman arranged for two prospects to arrive to campus prior to their enrollment and arranged for impermissible benefits to those two student-athletes. The violations demonstrated that the former men's basketball head coach Randy Bolden failed to monitor his staff.
Specifically, in the Fall of 2024, Newman arranged for and provided impermissible recruiting benefits in the form of cost-free housing and meals to two prospective student-athletes several weeks prior to their anticipated enrollment date. Because Newman arranged housing and meals before the prospects were formally enrolled, those benefits violated NCAA rules.
The school, enforcement staff and Bolden agreed that he is responsible for the violations because he did not adequately monitor the activities of the assistant coach and did not address red flags regarding those two prospects being present on campus before their enrollment.
As a result of these violations, the COI imposed the following penalties:
- A $1,808 fine (equivalent to double the value of the impermissible benefits provided).
- A two-week ban on men's basketball recruiting during the 2026-27 academic year.
- A one-year show-cause order for Bolden, during which any employing NCAA member school will suspend him from all athletically related responsibilities. If he should be employed by a member school during that time, he will be suspended from 10% of the men's basketball regular season (three games).
- A one-year show cause order for Newman, during which time any employing NCAA school will suspend him from all athletically related responsibilities. If he should be employed by a member school during that time, he will be suspended from 20% of the men's basketball regular season (five games).
- One-year probationary period for men's basketball (with no restrictions on post-season participation)
