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 UNLV formally notified of NCAA probe
Posted: Tuesday March 23, 1999 09:02 PM
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The NCAA made it official Tuesday, telling UNLV its basketball program is once again under investigation for possible recruiting and other violations. A visit by investigators to the UNLV campus last week led to a letter from the NCAA notifying UNLV officials that it will launch a preliminary inquiry into several allegations surrounding coach Bill Bayno's program. Bayno said he was apprehensive about the probe, but believes his program has not violated any NCAA regulations. "I've never knowingly, willingly, violated any rules," Bayno said. "I look forward to the truth coming out." The investigation will take up to six months and could uncover violations other than the ones that sparked the probe, according to a letter from NCAA investigative chief David Price to UNLV president Carol Harter. Harter said the university, which had a checkered relationship with the NCAA under former coach Jerry Tarkanian, would cooperate fully in the probe. "We certainly treat this inquiry as a serious matter and will review each issue as soon as we are provided the appropriate information," Harter said. Bayno, a fourth-year coach, also pledged his cooperation. "I feel good about our program," he said. "I've never had a problem with the NCAA anyplace I've ever been." The probe comes after a former student manager for the team claimed that cash payments were made on behalf of former player Tyrone Nesby to an auto leasing company. Mike Viellion claimed that he was given money from associate head coach Glenn Cyprien to make the payments. Viellion also claimed Cyprien let center Kaspars Kambala use Viellion's car to run some errands while Viellion was out of town. Kambala wrecked and totaled the car, and Viellion feels he was never compensated properly for it. Both Bayno and Cyprien have denied the charges. Price, the NCAA's vice president for enforcement, also listed possible recruiting violations in his letter to Harter, and said that other violations could be uncovered as the investigation continues. Bayno said he did not know what the possible recruiting violations might be. Dirk Taitt, the NCAA director of enforcement, and another investigator were on the UNLV campus last week to meet with Viellion and UNLV officials and to look at other allegations. Bayno said the formal letter notifying UNLV of the preliminary inquiry was expected, calling it just another step in the process of resolving the allegations. The NCAA probe is the first at UNLV since Tarkanian left in 1992 after battling the organization for years over various allegations.
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