brainsmile

ESPN.com news services


SEATTLE -- Rick Neuheisel's participation in a high-stakes gambling pool on the NCAA basketball tournament reportedly will cost him his job as Washington's football coach.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, citing multiple unidentified sources close to the football program, reported that Neuheisel was told Tuesday by athletic director Barbara Hedges that he would be fired.

Neuheisel told Seattle television station KING-5 on Tuesday night that the report was untrue and that he has not been fired.

The newspaper said the sources were familiar with negotiations and indicated Neuheisel, who coached Colorado from 1995 to 1998 before coming to Washington, would be fired because he broke NCAA rules by taking part in the tournament pool.

Athletic department spokesman Jim Daves said Tuesday night that Neuheisel's status as coach had not changed and an investigation into possible violations of NCAA gambling rules was continuing.

"The university is continuing to review this matter," Daves said. "Coach Neuheisel has not been fired."

Last week, investigators received a tip that Neuheisel participated with a group of friends in a high-stakes gambling pool on the past two NCAA tournaments, putting up $5,000 and winning about $20,000 by picking Maryland in 2002.

According to the Post-Intelligencer, Neuheisel invested a total of $6,400 during his two years participating in the pool and won $12,123.

Only a settlement for the five years remaining on Neuheisel's six-year contract remains to be negotiated, the newspaper reported. The tab could be as much as $3.6 million -- an amount that includes a compensation payout based on his contract terms and a $1.5 million loan given to Neuheisel this September -- unless the university insists that it has "just cause" to fire him.

That clause in Neuheisel's contract, the Post-Intelligencer reports, says he can be fired for a "serious or intentional violation of any law, rule, regulation, constitutional provision, by-law of ... the university, the state of Washington, the Pac-10, or the NCAA."

The newspaper also said Huskies offensive coordinator Keith Gilbertson would be named interim coach and the rest of Neuheisel's staff would be retained. Contacted by the newspaper, Gilbertson said he was unaware of the change.

Efforts by The Associated Press to reach Neuheisel and Gilbertson were not immediately successful.

Earlier Tuesday, Neuheisel appeared concerned and confused after spending 10 minutes with Hedges and members of the university's compliance department.

The coach said he went to the meeting "to get my cards on the table." But he came out looking genuinely worried, speaking in abbreviated sentences and unable to remain standing in one spot for long.

"These are big issues in my life we're talking about," he said.

Neuheisel brought a private attorney to the meeting but stormed out after being told his outside legal counsel represented a conflict of interest.

About four hours later, Hedges came out. She declined to explain what was discussed but politely promised reporters she would speak when it was appropriate.

"When I can talk to you, I will," Hedges said. "I just can't right now."

Neuheisel contends a school e-mail gave him permission to participate in the betting pool with friends and neighbors the past two years.

However, an NCAA official said Tuesday the organization has made it clear that gambling isn't tolerated, suggesting Neuheisel should have known better than to enter such a pool.

"The gambling rule is not vague," said Bill Saum, the NCAA's director of agents, gambling and amateur activities.

Saum wouldn't discuss Neuheisel or Washington directly, citing NCAA policy. The NCAA, though, opened an investigation last week after Neuheisel admitted betting on the last two NCAA basketball tournaments.

"It is clear and direct against participation in pools and it has been clearly interpreted that way over the years," Saum said of the rule.

NCAA bylaw 10.3 prohibits athletic department staff members and student-athletes from gambling.

Saum said the NCAA has made gambling a "front-burner issue" in the past five years, emphasizing at compliance seminars and in regular NCAA publications that any gambling is against the rules.

"I routinely do an immense number of interviews around the time of the Final Four regarding pools," Saum said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.







Fortunately he's already found a new job managing a team

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"Nobody beats Vitus Gerulaitis 18 times in a row." - Vitus Gerulaitis on beating Jimmy Connors after 17 failed attempts.

baggio248

This is the first time he's been in trouble since being hired at UW. First the recruiting violations while still at Colorado and then lying about being interviewed about the 49ers job. Ya know, maybe if he wants to stay in sports he should run a sports book.

sbp

What is it with guys who do this? They soil the reputation and put their big money contract at risk, all for small money.

zippyjuan

Neuhisel likes to push the envelope. If something falls into a grey area, he feels it is OK. His recruiting violations were very minor- like calling a player from his cell phone in his car outside the player's house when he wasn't allowed to go in in person. The director of UWa's NCAA compliance sent an e-mail saying that office pools would be ok- he has a copy to prove it- I think it is just that he won 20,000 on a $5000 bet that got people on it. Would anyone care if it was $20? He is a good coach and winning is what counts. Just look at Nebraska and Florida an Fla State. Those coaches are God on Campus and can get away with things easier.

baggio248

He is a good coach. He took them to the Rose Bowl in 2000, that says alot. There were reports today that he had "stepped down". No one at the university has stated he has been fired. He said he is looking for more challenges. Perhaps he can open a joint venture with Eustacy and Price and have a strip club/bar/sports book?

coleslaw

Oh?

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brainsmile

maybe a good coach by the x and o's but not a good coach as in mentor/role model