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What gambling scandal penalties from NCAA mean for Alabama baseball

The NCAA on Thursday levied penalties and revealed details from its investigation into the gambling scandal that led to Brad Bohannon's termination as Alabama baseball coach in May of 2023.

Bohannon received a 15-year show-cause for violating NCAA wagering and ethical conduct rules. If hired during that time, he would also have to be suspended for 100% of the first five seasons.

Alabama was also penalized, but in a much lesser way. There was no indication of a postseason ban or a scholarship reduction in the negotiated resolution the NCAA published Thursday.

Alabama's penalties for Level I - mitigated violations include three years of probation from Feb. 1, 2024 through Jan. 31, 2027 as well as a financial penalty of a $5,000 fine.

"The institution and enforcement staff agree that the facts of this case do not warrant a postseason ban or scholarship reductions, which are within the range identified by the Figure 19-1 penalty guidelines," the resolution read.

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What the NCAA is requiring Alabama baseball to do

As part of the negotiated resolution, the Crimson Tide must ...

  • Retain EPIC Global Solutions for an educational program to be given to players, coaches and administrators on gambling harm

  • Continue a comprehensive compliance and educational program on NCAA legislation

  • Submit a preliminary report to the Committees on Infractions by March 15 that explains a schedule for the program

  • File annual compliance reports to show progress by Dec. 15 each year of probation

  • Inform baseball prospects in writing of the three-years probation, explaining the violations that were committed. That information must be provided before official visits

  • Publicize information about the nature of the infractions with a link to the public infractions decision on the athletic department's website and in the media guide for the baseball program

  • Provide a letter to the Committee on Infractions after submitting the final compliance report. The letter must affirm Alabama's current athletics policies and practices conform to NCAA regulations

"The parties assessed the factors by weight and number and agree that this case should be properly resolved as Level I – Mitigated for the institution," the resolution read. "In reaching a mitigated classification, the institution and enforcement staff agreed that significant weight should be given to the mitigated factors in Bylaws 19.12.4.1-(b) and 19.12.4.1-(g), because the institution accepted responsibility for the violations and expended substantial resources to work proactively and quickly with the enforcement staff to identify the scope of the violations."

Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and he covers Alabama football and men's basketball. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama baseball: Penalties from NCAA for ex-coach's gambling scandal