University of Miami women’s basketball coach Katie Meier violated NCAA rules by facilitating impermissible contact between two prospects and a booster, the NCAA’s Division I Committee on Infractions (COI) announced on Friday. It is the first decision resolved by the COI since rules regarding name, image and likeness (NIL) changed drastically on July 1, 2021, allowing athletes to monetize their NIL.
The decision, a negotiated resolution between the school, the coach and the NCAA enforcement staff, included one year of probation and recruiting sanctions. Notably, it did not require Miami booster John Ruiz to disassociate from the school nor did it punish Haley and Hanna Cavinder, the two prospective athletes at the center of the case who transferred to Miami from Fresno State in April 2022. The twins are currently on the Hurricanes’ roster.
Meier’s violations were deemed Level II (and mitigated). During the investigation, Miami self-imposed a three-game suspension for Meier, which the coach served at the start of the 2022-23 season. Miami’s athletic director and deputy AD met with Ruiz to educate him on NCAA rules and the limitations he faces as a booster.
The Hurricanes begin a one-year probationary period on Friday, and they will pay the NCAA $5,000 plus one percent of…
