Ex-NCAA Athletic Director Reportedly Used School Funds To Defend Football Players
The University of Maryland’s athletic department finds itself in the headlines, again, and for all of the wrong reasons.
The Washington Post reports that the school’s former athletic director, Kevin Anderson, used university funds to defend two football players involved in a sexual misconduct case.
The incident occurred in 2017, which prompted an investigation into the allegations in June of that year. While university officials confirmed that they hired a law firm to defend the players, they say they didn’t know school funds were being used until the invoice was received.
Maryland’s athletic department paid $15,000 to the Sports Group for legal help. According to the firm’s website, its founder, Don Jackson, “has represented student-athletes, coaches and universities in civil matters, arbitration proceedings and mediation hearings.”
The money came from Anderson’s discretionary account, which is funded by university and athletic department boosters.
Anderson’s actions showed “a serious lack of judgment in a sexual misconduct case, given the university’s commitment to a fair and impartial handling of all such matters,” a university spokesman told The Post on Thursday.
While a school paying for a student-athlete’s lawyer is allowed by the NCAA, it is only intended for cases involving the student-athlete’s eligibility.
Maryland’s former Title IX officer told The Diamondback newspaper that an arrangement for a lawyer in a sexual misconduct case “constitutes an equity issue” as one side would be provided representation free of charge while the other side would not.
The Post reached out to Anderson, who called the report “inaccurate.” Anderson resigned from Maryland in April and has been serving as the interim AD at Cal State Northridge since May.
The report also states that coach D.J. Durkin was the first one to reach out to the Sports Group on the behalf of his players. Anderson hired Durkin as the football team’s head coach at the end of the 2015 season.
Durkin is also involved in the school’s other big controversy — the death of 19-year-old Terps offensive lineman Jordan McNair.
ESPN published a story in which unidentified players and people close to the program described a “toxic culture” at Maryland under Durkin that may have contributed to McNair dying two weeks after collapsing during a practice session.
Durkin was placed on administrative leave Aug. 11 while the school investigates McNair’s death and the allegations of abuse by current and former players.
In addition, the strength and conditioning coach who oversaw the workout resigned while two other members of the football staff are also on administrative leave.
The Terps will hold a moment of silence in McNair’s honor before their first game on Sept. 1 at FedEx Field in Landover and then again before their first home game on Sep. 15 against Temple.
The players also decided that nobody will wear McNair’s No. 79 jersey until 2021, which is the year he would have graduated. The players will also wear No. 79 helmet stickers all season in his honor.
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