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Clemson athletics reports seven NCAA violations in 2024
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- Clemson athletics reports seven NCAA violations in 2024
This story was updated to add new information.
CLEMSON — Clemson baseball coach Erik Bakich and a camp director received letters of reprimand after it hosted an institutional camp in 2024 that conducted game-day simulations involving prospect-aged students on an unofficial visit, according to documents obtained by The Greenville News .
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This was one of seven violations Clemson athletics reported to the NCAA in 2024. All were Level III violations, meaning they were "isolated or limited in nature; provide no more than a minimal recruiting, competitive or other advantage; and provide no more than a minimal impermissible benefit." Level III violations are the least severe but most common infractions.
Clemson also provided "rules education" to its baseball staff for the violation, and the prospective student-athletes (PSA) who took part were ruled ineligible for competition at Clemson, until the NCAA's student-athlete reinstatement staff restored their eligibility.
The NCAA also required Clemson to count the "impermissible activity" as a contact with each recruit involved.
The other 2024 violations occurred in Clemson's softball, women's basketball, track and field, rowing, gymnastics and men's golf teams. Clemson football did not report any NCAA violations in 2024 after having 11 infractions during the previous four years, including two in 2023.
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Here's what each program committed and what their discipline was.
Certain information, including the specific date of violations, were redacted from the report.
Clemson women's basketball recruit's boyfriend received meals on official visit
In 2024, the boyfriend of a prospective student-athlete (PSA) received two meals while accompanying her on an official visit to Clemson, which violated the NCAA bylaw on official visit meals.
Clemson provided rules education to the basketball staff. It also ruled the PSA ineligible, until she repays the cost of the meals, $59.98, to a charity of her choice.
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According to the NCAA, programs can provide up to three meals per day to a PSA and "up to four family members" accompanying the recruit on an official visit.
Clemson track and field athlete provided $10 to tutor in exchange for assistance
In November 2024, a track-and-field student-athlete received "impermissible" academic assistance from an athletic department tutor and provided the tutor $10 in exchange for the assistance.
The athlete was immediately declared ineligible for competition, and the tutor was "permanently removed" from all positions within the athletics department.
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Clemson gymnastics coach Amy Smith did not sign off on squad list before team's first competition
In January 2024, Smith did not sign off on the team's "squad list" prior to the team's first competition, as required by the NCAA. It faced William & Mary in its first match of its inaugural season last year on Jan. 12 at Littlejohn Coliseum. She received rules education as a corrective action.
According to the NCAA, an institution must complete a squad list for each sport by the first day of outside competition, and players must be featured on the list to be eligible.
Clemson softball assistant included information about program in questionnaire too early
In January 2024, one of Clemson softball coach John Rittman's assistants "impermissibly" included information about the athletics program in a questionnaire mailed to multiple PSA before Sept. 1 of their junior year.
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As a result, Clemson prevented the softball staff from sending any written and electronic recruiting materials and correspondence to the involved PSAs for a two-week period "once it otherwise becomes permissible to send such recruiting materials." It also provided rules education related to recruiting legislation to the softball staff.
Clemson men's golf prospect accepted discount for a round of golf while on official visit
In 2023, a Clemson men's golf PSA accepted a discounted rate for a round of golf while on an official visit.
This caused Clemson to provide rules education to the coaching staff and student-athletes regarding "normal retail costs to entertain PSAs." It also declared the PSA ineligible and must go through an reinstatement process. Clemson submitted a request through the NCAA's student-athlete reinstatement staff.
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Clemson rowing assistant responded to an email from 2027 PSA too early
In November 2024, a Clemson rowing assistant "mistakenly" responded to an email from a 2027 PSA prior to June 15, 2025.
Clemson gave rules education to the coaching staff. It also ruled the staff is prohibited from electronic communication with the PSA until two weeks after the permissible date.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson athletics reports seven NCAA violations during 2024
