The following write-up has now been updated to include more information on the NCAA violation for the Utah baseball team.
University of Utah baseball coach Bill Kinneberg is facing suspension due to a letter written by a parent of a former baseball student-athlete stating that Kinneberg violated NCAA rules. Utah athletic director Chris Hill made the announcement on Monday.
Hill said that the violation was an “isolated incident” not related to academics, funding or recruiting. Utah recommended the suspension to the NCAA but would not reveal the length of games recommended because the investigation is ongoing.
There were seven allegations made by the unnamed parent, including injuries as a result of incorrect use of, or faulty, equipment, drug abuse by baseball players, alcohol misuse by coaches, Kinneberg asking a student manager (who was 21-years-old) to buy him beer, and a culture of partying or other inappropriate conduct by student-athletes on road trips.
The university hired the law firm of Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC to perform an independent investigation. According to the report, the firm found no evidence of: drug-abuse problems involving baseball players, or players engaging in inappropriate behavior on road trips or injuries injuries due to incorrect use of failure of equipment.
Two allegations were made concerning alcohol use by the baseball staff. The first allegation was that Kinneberg requested that a student manager buy beer for him. The second allegation was that the director of operations became intoxicated at an away game and was unable to perform a task that was his responsibility.
According to the report, Kinneberg acknowledged that he requested a 21-year-old student manager to go to the store to buy beer for him at two separate away games. The student manager confirmed purchasing one or two cans of beer on approximately three occasions. Kinneberg stated that he had one beer in the evening with dinner.
The review found no evidence that Kinneberg or any other staff members engaged in abusive behavior, were intoxicated in the presence of baseball players, or were incapable of carrying out their duties as the result of alcohol consumption.
Listen to Dr. Chris Hill discussing the violation.
