Over the past year, CSUN athletics has been marred by multiple violations of university and NCAA policy.
Most notably, the men’s basketball was under intense scrutiny after the university launched an academic investigation that resulted in several players being held out of dozens of contests last season.
The team eventually suffered through a 10-24 season, where players expressed frustration and fatigue because of the lack of available players.
Although the investigation never produced any concrete resolution or findings, CSUN athletics only offered a brief statement approximately a month before the 2015-2016 season started.
“We’re all on track,” said said Amy Millstone, associate athletic director, strategic communications for men’s basketball, regarding if the school or NCAA resolved the issue.
Despite an arduous 2014-2015 season, the men’s basketball program once again has to deal with issues off the court, as guards Aaron Parks and Jerron Wilbut have been held out of games due to a violation of team and university policy.
Similarly to last season’s academic investigation, CSUN athletics has been mum about the subject, deciding not to identify which exact policies were violated, and whether there will be any additional disciplinary action other than suspension for Wilbut and
“I really can’t talk about A.P. [Aaron Parks] and Jerron, they’re out for team rules and university rules,” said Theus, after CSUN defeated the California State University, Los Angeles Golden Eagles on Nov. 5. “That’s really all I can say.”
With key non-conference games against USC and UCLA looming, CSUN athletics would not specify a time table for their return.
“No update as Reggie told you before,” said Millstone.
However, on Nov. 17, Millstone did say the issue surrounding Parks and Wilbut was resolved, but she wouldn’t say whether they had to participate in further disciplinary action.
In addition to the dilemmas that the men’s basketball program has had, the women’s volleyball program also committed a Level III NCAA violation when it was discovered an ineligible student-athlete played in 19 matches during the 2014 season. As a result, they were forced to vacate the 18 victories she participated in.
The violation was because of an administrative error committed during the certification process.
Moreover, CSUN was forced to pay $5,000 in fines to the NCAA—$500 for every game played by the ineligible student-athlete—which is the largest amount an institution can be fined.
