On Friday, the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions (COI) announced the results of an investigation regarding academic misconduct within the ULMs men’s basketball program.

The investigation involved former assistant men’s basketball coach, Phillipe Lilavois, for reportedly engaging in the academic aid of two student-athletes in the summer of 2017. 

According to the NCAA’s report, ULM’s senior associates athletic director informed the NCAA enforcement staff of a possible case of academic misconduct within the men’s basketball program on September 14, 2017.

Lilavois was placed on administrative leave the next day, Sept 15.

Athletic director Nick Floyd, and men’s head basketball coach, Keith Richard, accepted his reassignment shortly after in October 2017.

The investigation of the institution revealed that classwork for multiple online French courses was submitted by Lilavois on behalf of two men’s basketball student athletes.

The submissions were traced back to the Lilavois’s computer in October 2017.

Both student athletes reported that the coach completed all of their work in one of the courses and all, but the oral portions in another.

On top of that, Lilavois violated the code of ethical conduct by providing incorrect or misleading information at an interview with the institution and enforcement staff on September 27, 2017.

He reported that he had only completed the exams for the student athletes in their online French classes and that the assignments were completed by the athletes themselves.

In October and November of 2017, Lilavois violated ethical conduct and cooperative principal yet again, after he refused to take place in a second interview with the institution and enforcement staff.

ULM, Lilavois and the enforcement staff submitted their summary disposition report (SDR) to the COI on March 21, 2018.

On April 25, 2018 a COI panel reviewed the SDR and suggested penalties on both the institution and the assistant coach.

However, ULM contacted the panel on May 7, 2018 to inform them that it wished to contest two of the suggested penalties put forth towards the institution.

The hearing was held on July 25, 2018, with Lilavois in attendance.

According to the COI, the case was taken through the cooperative summary disposition process where all parties agreed to primary facts and violations in the case before issuing penalties.

The issued penalties are a direct result of violations by Lilavois. The penalties include a public reprimand and censure, a financial penalty and two years of probation.

Although the institution and coach were issued these penalties, they do not impact any student athlete’s eligibility or the team’s eligibility for postseason play.

The university and athletic staff is very pleased with the effectiveness of the COI and is glad to have this in the past ,so that the program can move forward.