The NCAA revealed sanctions against the University of Alabama and its former head baseball coach, Brad Bohannon, concerning their involvement in providing insider information to a gambler who bet against the Crimson Tide during an SEC game last spring.
Bohannon, who was dismissed from his coaching position in May, was found to have knowingly shared confidential details with a bettor regarding an Alabama-LSU baseball game on April 28, 2023. He declined to cooperate with the NCAA’s investigation into suspicious betting activities surrounding the game.
The NCAA determined that Bohannon violated betting regulations and ethical conduct standards, resulting in a 15-year show-cause penalty. This means any NCAA institution that hires him must suspend him for the entirety of the baseball regular season for the initial five seasons of his employment.
Additionally, the university received a three-year probation period, a $5,000 fine, and is mandated to engage a firm to provide comprehensive gambling education to student-athletes, coaches, and athletics administrators.
According to the NCAA, Bohannon exchanged messages with an individual known to be involved in betting on the game, indicating a player’s absence from the lineup. Subsequently, the bettor, identified as Bert Eugene Neff, attempted to place a $100,000 wager on the game but was limited to a $15,000 bet by the sportsbook’s staff. The game, which saw Alabama scratching its starting pitcher, concluded with LSU winning 8-6.
Vince Nicastro, deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of the Big East, expressed deep concern over Bohannon’s actions, emphasizing the critical importance of upholding the integrity of games within NCAA regulations. Neff, an Indiana businessman and youth baseball coach, pleaded guilty to federal obstruction charges related to the investigation.
Federal authorities revealed that Neff made additional bets on the game with a competing sportsbook and shared the information with at least four other gamblers. Neff faces potential imprisonment and a substantial fine as per the plea agreement.
Furthermore, the Indiana Gaming Commission and Ohio Casino Control Commission announced intentions to ban Neff from their respective gaming establishments due to his involvement in suspicious betting activities. Neff plans to appeal these decisions. Bohannon will also be added to the Ohio Casino Control Commission’s involuntary exclusion list.
