UH, Arnold file second replies to NCAA infractions panel

The University of Hawaii and former men’s basketball coach Gib Arnold have sent supplemental materials to the NCAA in support of their rival positions for next month’s infractions hearing.

Tuesday was the 30-day deadline to submit the materials to the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions, which is scheduled to meet July 16-17 in Scottsdale, Ariz., to rule on seven allegations against the basketball program and its fired coach. All of the allegations are listed at Level I or Level II, the most severe of four categories.

The parties issued their initial responses to the NCAA’s 42-page Notice of Allegations on May 15. After reviewing each other’s filings, they had until Tuesday to provide additional responses. Spokesmen for both the school and Arnold said they planned to submit materials.

In Arnold’s case, the latest reply, said to number 40 pages, comes two days after what is described as a nearly four-hour interview of UH Compliance Director Amanda Paterson. Arnold’s Honolulu attorney, James Bickerton, confirmed that Paterson, whom he has called the “star witness” in the case, was made available by the NCAA and UH and interviewed Sunday.

She was said to have been accompanied by her attorney, former Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett. UH confirmed that it is paying for Bennett’s services in the case.

Neither Bennett nor Bickerton would comment on the substance of the session. Bickerton has previously said Arnold and Paterson were at odds over her handling of several compliance issues.

Bickerton said he also interviewed Arnold’s replacement, former interim head coach Benji Taylor, on Monday. Taylor, who took over in the aftermath of Arnold’s Oct. 28 firing and remained until the hiring of Eran Ganot on April 9, was an assistant at UH for four seasons. Bickerton said the NCAA and UH only “narrowly” interviewed Taylor, “who has been there throughout the (time) period that is in question. Coach Taylor has a lot to say about these matters. Fortunately, our team interviewed him, so his statement will be in the NCAA record.”

Meanwhile, the Southeastern Conference announced Tuesday that UH’s lead attorney in the NCAA case, William H. King III of the Alabama-based Lightfoot, Franklin & White law firm, will join the SEC as Associate Commissioner for Legal Affairs and Compliance on Sept. 1.

King told the Star-Advertiser in an email he “will continue to represent the University” through the NCAA hearing.

King’s boss at the conference will be SEC commissioner Greg Sankey. Sankey chairs the NCAA Committee on Infractions, but will reportedly not sit on the UH case.

“That’s certainly interesting news,” Bickerton said. “I would certainly want to know if he (King) had made these plans at the time he essentially pleaded UH guilty to the (NCAA) charges.”

The NCAA said it impanels five to seven members from an 18- to 24-member pool and a hearing officer to hear Division I infractions cases.