COI previously approved agreement for school and seven other individuals
Former Arizona State football associate head coach Antonio Pierce and ex-noncoaching staff member Anthony Garnett were found to have engaged in unauthorized recruiting activities during the COVID-19 dead period, as stated in a ruling from a Division I Committee on Infractions panel. Pierce’s personal involvement in the violations—including providing inducements to recruits and their families—constituted a breach of ethical conduct principles.
In April, a negotiated resolution was approved by the Division I Committee, where the university and four individuals admitted to various violations and penalties. Three others opted not to participate in the process, with their infractions included in the agreement. This public announcement allowed ASU to start serving penalties while awaiting a final ruling for those contesting their cases. The resolutions for Pierce and Garnett were settled through a written record hearing.
Most violations arose from a scheme in which Pierce, alongside other staff and a booster, orchestrated unofficial visits to the school over approximately a year during the dead period. Throughout these visits, which spanned over 15 weekends, staff had impermissible interactions with 35 recruits and their families, involving tryouts, tours of football facilities, and entertainment. Pierce directly arranged or provided complimentary meals, clothing, airfare, and lodging for 27 prospects, often with the booster, a parent of a student-athlete in the program. This not only breached dead period regulations but also constituted prohibited recruiting inducements, including taking recruits’ parents to a gentlemen’s club. Consequently, eight enrolled prospects participated in 19 contests while ineligible.
During interviews, several coaching staff members reported that Pierce “ran the show” and that noncompliance with his directions could jeopardize their jobs.
Garnett played a role by organizing a tryout, overseeing prohibited transportation, and engaging in direct recruiting contacts with prospects and their families.
Further violations occurred when Pierce and Garnett traveled out of state to observe prospects. They met with them and their families during workouts and competitions.
Additionally, Pierce instructed an assistant coach to contact a student-athlete enrolled at another institution, leading to 46 text messages and at least one call, although the prospect did not transfer to Arizona State.
Pierce’s involvement in arranging and providing recruiting inducements led to his violation of ethical conduct rules. After leaving ASU, he repeatedly failed to comply with cooperation requests. While he participated in an interview and acknowledged some facts around the unofficial visits, he consistently denied having planned or organized any elements of those visits or the out-of-state contacts, and failed to provide necessary financial documents.
Garnett acknowledged part of his role in the unofficial visits but denied other actions, despite substantial contrary evidence.
The panel categorized the infractions as Level I-aggravated for both Pierce and Garnett. In addition to the previously approved penalties, the committee imposed:
- An eight-year show-cause order for Pierce—if he secures employment at an NCAA member school during this time, he will be suspended from all athletically related activities for his first season.
- A five-year show-cause order for Garnett—similarly, should he become employed, he’ll face a 100% season suspension.
The committee members, which include experts from the NCAA and legal fields, reviewed and determined the case’s outcome.
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