NCAA: Rodriguez broke rules while at West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia student managers, graduate assistants, and other noncoaching staff worked with football players on their skills and techniques in violation of NCAA limits during the Rich Rodriguez era and under current coach Bill Stewart, according to NCAA allegations released Thursday.

The NCAA said that there were five major and one secondary rules violations committed by the Mountaineer football program from 2005 to 2009.

The NCAA said both Rodriguez and Stewart failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance. Similar allegations were leveled against Rodriguez during an earlier, separate investigation at Michigan, which in May admitted it had committed a series of violations related to practice time and coaching activities.

Rodriguez led West Virginia, his alma mater, to two Bowl Championship Series berths and a 60-26 record in seven seasons before taking over at Michigan in December, 2007. He left West Virginia two weeks after the Mountaineers lost to Pittsburgh in the 2007 regular-season finale and failed to secure a spot in the national championship game.

Rodriguez said in a statement that he has always taken compliance seriously and "sincerely felt our program was open and transparent."

"I regret any mistakes that were made or rules that were misinterpreted. Any errors certainly weren't made intentionally. I openly discussed my past practices with NCAA investigators and will continue to cooperate fully during this process.

"I have redoubled efforts with my staff and our compliance team to improve several processes, strengthen communications, and work to ensure these mistakes won't happen in the future."

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said there will be no change in Rodriguez's job status as a result of Thursday's NCAA announcements.

Stewart became West Virginia's head coach after leading the Mountaineers to a Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma as interim coach in January, 2008.

According to the NCAA, during the summers of 2005 to 2009, West Virginia allowed graduate assistants, student managers, or others to monitor or conduct voluntary football players' summer workouts.

Graduate assistants were allowed to analyze video with players, and some staff monitored and conducted skill development with players during the spring and summer, the NCAA said.

The NCAA noted Stewart knew or should have known that the involvement of noncoaching, sports-specific staff members was not permissible.