Temple's athletic program put on probation

The NCAA announced yesterday that it has put the entire Temple athletic program on probation for two years and handed down other penalties for two violations that occurred in the Owls' sports program in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years.

Temple originally reported both violations to the NCAA, Ann Weaver Hart, Temple president, said in a statement.

The most serious violation involved the 2005 men's tennis team. Coach Bill Hoehne was fired on April 12, 2005, after the university learned that he had used an ineligible player in nine off-campus matches that spring. Those violations, according to the NCAA, included fraud and erroneous student-athlete eligibility certifications.

The athlete, a midyear transfer, was allowed to compete under the name of an eligible player who had left the team. The NCAA reported that Hoehne, who had coached at Temple for seven seasons, even went so far as to mumble the player's name during pre-match introductions so as to not obviously identify him and requested that opponents skip the introductions.

As a result of that player's participation, the men's tennis team is ineligible for the postseason in 2008. The NCAA also vacated the wins the Owls tennis team earned in 2005. That team, which finished 3-9, will go down in the books as 0-12.

In addition, Hoehne was given a seven-year show of cause penalty. That means that, over the next seven years, Hoehne and any school that wants to hire him must appear before the NCAA infractions committee to determine whether Hoehne's role should be limited.

Temple was criticized by the NCAA for not having enough oversight on Hoehne. Temple also accepted responsibility for 36 student-athletes' improperly using financial aid for book purchases during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years. It was found that student-athletes purchased books that were not required for classes in which they were enrolled.

The NCAA report said that the Temple student-athletes in question typically said they bought the books for their own interests, for a girlfriend, or to sell for cash.

During the two years of probation, Temple must supply the NCAA with compliance reports more frequently. A public reprimand and censure were also handed down.

"We reviewed our compliance program, undertook appropriate actions," Weaver Hart said in a statement. "Adhering to NCAA rules is essential. Everyone involved in Temple athletics will be vigilant in maintaining our compliance in the future and in holding our athletics program to the highest standards. We concur with and will abide by the NCAA determination."