Updated at 11:46 a.m. June 3 to include Augusta University’s official statement
Dip Metress, Augusta University’s basketball coach, is in additional hot water after the NCAA issued its report on a cheating scandal that emerged in 2021.
Metress was suspended, and an assistant coach who was fired as a result of the university’s investigation into the scandal. The coach now faces additional penalties from the NCAA. In a report released June 2, the NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions “concludes that major violations occurred” involving Metress and former assistant coach O’Neal Armstrong and will result in multiple penalties.
The committee “adopts and prescribes the following principal penalties: three years of probation; a reduction of two financial aid awards in the men’s basketball program; a $5,000 fine; vacation of records; attendance at NCAA Regional Rules Seminars in 2022 and 2023 for added certain institutional representatives; a two-year show-cause order with specific restrictions for the head coach; and a general two-year show-cause order for the assistant coach.”
The three-year probation began June 2 and will continue through June 1, 2025. Metress, who was suspended for the first part of the 2021-2022 season, will be suspended again for the first five conference games of the 2022-23 season.
“The provisions of this suspension require that the head coach not be present in the arena where the games are played and have no contact or communication with members of the men’s basketball coaching staff and student athletes during the suspension period,” per pages 18-19 of the report.
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The rules violations stemmed from two incidents, one in fall 2020 and another in spring 2021, involving a student who according to a Dec. 13, 2021 article in The Augusta Press, “could barely read.” The article cited an Augusta University human resources department investigation that came to this conclusion and further stated the student “should not have been academically qualified for college sports.”
The NCAA report stated that the student-athlete competed in 16 contests and received expenses while ineligible.
The report cited the 2020 fall semester incident in which “the head coach added content to the student athlete’s English paper in violation of the institution’s academic misconduct policy. [Bylaws 14.9.2.1-(a), 14.9.2.2-(a) and 16.8.1 (2020-21)] b. On March 8, 2021, the assistant coach provided answers to multiple questions on an exam in the student athlete’s criminal justice course in violation of the institution’s academic misconduct policy. [Bylaws 14.9.2.1-(a) and 14.9.2.2-(a) (2020-21)],” according to page 5 of the report.
Some of the punitive measures listed in the report are noted as “self-imposed” by Augusta University. These include the fine, reduction of financial aid awards and Metress’s suspension; however, the committee deemed those measures inadequate.
“When Augusta discovered the head coach’s violations, it imposed and implemented the following disciplinary measures: (1) suspension without pay for 45 days; (2) a two-year period of institutional probation; (3) a written reprimand and final warning; and (4) a suspension from coaching two scrimmages and three regular season contests in the fall of 2021. The COI determined that these sanctions did not sufficiently address the serious nature of the head coach’s violations,” page 14 of the report.
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The Dec. 13 article quoted an email from Metress to Augusta University athletic director Clint Bryant.
“It was never my intent to do anything that would reflect negatively on me, my program, or the university,” Metress wrote in the Aug 18, 2021 email. “I have worked very hard over the past 17 years to manage a basketball program to be proud of.”
Metress’s email continued, “I am sorry that me being overzealous has caused this investigation, and I am prepared to take steps to continue my career at Augusta University and the success of this program and my student athletes within whatever parameters necessary. I realize my honesty, my apology, and my feelings of being responsible to monitor these student athletes do not absolve my responsibility of these violations, and I can assure you that I have used this time of suspension to reflect on my mistakes and how I can move forward and regain your trust.”
Augusta University issued the following statement.
“Athletics compliance and academic integrity are top priorities at Augusta University. Any suspected infractions of NCAA rules are thoroughly and comprehensively investigated, all discovered violations promptly reported, and, after a fair process, appropriate penalties rendered. We believe our prompt self-reporting to the NCAA, and our full and complete cooperation in their investigation reflected our commitment to athletic integrity, and the self-imposed penalties in this case were proportionate to the reported violations. We are grateful that the NCAA enforcement staff, and the Committee on Infractions have affirmed our clear commitment to our compliance obligations. “
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
