The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point announced today (Jan. 5) that it is taking swift actions in response to major allegations regarding its men’s basketball program. Effective immediately, head men’s basketball coach Bob Semling will be suspended from all activities involving UWSP athletics for the remainder of the 2016-17 season. Current associate head coach Kent Dernbach will serve as interim head coach during the suspension.
UWSP also announced that the men’s basketball program will undergo a postseason ban for the 2016-17 season, including the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament.
“As an institution, we feel that it is imperative to take swift and immediate action in response to what we have been informed by the NCAA are major allegations regarding our men’s basketball program,” stated UWSP Director of Athletics Brad Duckworth.
Semling has coached the Pointers since the 2005-06 season and holds a career record of 262-71. UWSP is 6-5 this season and will play at UW-La Crosse on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
The four major allegations regarding the UWSP men’s basketball program are as follows:
Allegation #1: It is alleged that during the 2011-12 through 2015-16 academic years, the men’s basketball coaching staff impermissibly directed, observed and engaged men’s basketball student-athletes in athletically related activities outside the institution’s declared playing seasons.
Allegation #2: It is alleged that in spring semesters between 2012 and 2015, the men’s basketball coaching staff impermissibly observed approximately 16 men’s basketball prospective student-athletes as they participated with men’s basketball student-athletes in activities detailed in allegation #1.
Allegation #3: It is alleged that during the 2011-12 through 2015-16 academic years, Bob Semling did not demonstrate that he promoted an atmosphere for compliance within the men’s basketball program due to his personal involvement in the alleged violations.
Allegation #4: It is alleged that between the 2011-12 academic year and the fall 2015, the scope and nature of the violations detailed in Allegations 1 and 2 demonstrate that the institution violated the principle of rules compliance when it failed to adequately monitor the men’s basketball program’s compliance with NCAA playing and practice seasons and tryout legislation.
Due to the NCAA confidentiality agreement, no further media inquiries or comments will be made by UWSP beyond today’s statement.
