The Oregon Ducks football program have been placed on probation for three years by the NCAA, ESPN reported Wednesday. The three year probation includes a loss of scholarships due to past violations committed by then-head coach Chip Kelly.
The league's Infractions Committee released a report claiming Kelly and the school did not correctly monitor the program during his tenure. Oregon has been under investigation by the NCAA for recruiting practices since a 2010 incident in which Willie Lyles and Complete Scouting Services, a Houston-based company, were paid $25,000. Lyles was believed to have ties to an Oregon recruit at the time.
Oregon's official paid visits have also been limited from 56 to 37 for the next three years, as well as evaluation days for that same time frame. The school is also banned from using recruiting services during the three-year span as well.
Kelly was placed with an 18-month show-cause order. This would force any school interested in hiring the former Oregon coach to appear before the infractions committee. Kelly had recently agreed to join the Philadelphia Eagles as a replacement for former coach Andy Reid.
The committee determined that Lyles gave cash and a free room to an Oregon prospect, while also making contact outside of the NCAA guidelines of allotted time with players, their families and high school coaches.
It was also alleged that the football program allowed staff members to participate in the recruiting of players, which exceeds the limits given to the coaching staff. The league noted that Kelly claims to have been unaware of Lyles' activity with the program, however, is responsible to take action as the head coach and abide by the NCAA guidelines.
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