Ferd Lewis: CSUN basketball coach linked to NC State investigation

NCAA Bylaw 11.1.1: “An institution’s head coach is presumed to be responsible for the actions of all assistant coaches and administrators who report, directly or indirectly, to the head coach. An institution’s head coach shall promote an atmosphere of compliance within his or her program and shall monitor the activities of all institutional staff members involved with the program …”

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A college basketball coach accused by the NCAA of failure to adequately monitor his program and a cloud over a potential contender for a Big West Conference championship while allegations are addressed?

If the situation sounds chillingly familiar to University of Hawaii basketball fans, it should.

Just five years after UH went through the NCAA wringer, a Big West Conference opponent, Cal State Northridge, has its own version of a hot potato.

Last week the NCAA charged in a notice of allegations that CSUN coach Mark Gottfried failed to demonstrate that he sufficiently monitored subordinates and aspects of the basketball program at his previous stop, North Carolina State, where he was the head coach from 2011 to ’17.

NC State is among the schools linked to ongoing FBI investigations into bribery and corruption in college basketball.

Gottfried was not alleged to have taken part in $46,700 in impermissible inducements and benefits provided to a star recruit at NC State in 2015 and is not cited for any violations while at CSUN. His attorney has denied Gottfried failed to adequately monitor the NC State program.

But as a condition of employment at CSUN, where he was hired last year, the school said Gottfried and his assistants were required to affirm that they were not involved in any actions linked to the federal investigation and had no knowledge of various impermissible activities by staff members under them.

The issue of Gottfried’s compliance comes as the Matadors are projected to be a prime contender for what would be the school’s first Big West title in more than a decade, some of it served under various NCAA sanctions.

Gottfried is the conference’s most accomplished head coach (414-262 record, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances) career-wise, as well as currently its highest paid, with a base salary that averages $500,000 plus additional compensation and bonuses, according to the Los Angeles Times.

CSUN returns two all-conference picks, guard Terrell Gomez and forward Lamine Diane, the Big West player of the year. They averaged 31 points and 26 points in two games against the Rainbow Warriors last season and are big reasons why CSUN is expected to challenge UC Santa Barbara and defending champion UC Irvine for the 2019-20 title.

The Matadors have had their own NCAA issues over the years. In 2004 CSUN was sanctioned after an assistant coach was found to have altered a player’s transcript to keep him eligible. In 2011-12 the team was banned from the postseason due to poor Academic Progress Ratings.

And, in 2016, the program was put on probation and forced to vacate victories after a staff member was charged with academic fraud.

In 2015, UH was among the first schools to have its coach cited under newly enacted, more stringent oversight requirements. Ultimately, Gib Arnold’s attorney, James Bickerton, was able to get a Level I violation reduced by claiming mitigating deficiencies by the school, which was also sanctioned.

Now, it is CSUN’s turn to sweat the fallout from NCAA allegations.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.