Geno Auriemma, the women's basketball coach for the University of Connecticut, wanted to make a congratulatory phone call to Mo'ne Davis for her historic efforts in the 2014 Little League World Series. His kind gesture has now cost him a secondary violation by the NCAA, according to the Hartford Courant.
"The NCAA has determined a secondary rules violation of bylaw 13.1.3.1 did occur and while UConn accepts this decision, we do not agree with it," said UConn athletic director, Warde Manuel.
An opposing school learned about the call and filed a complaint with the American Athletic Conference (AAC) about a possible recruiting violation, according to the Hartford Courant. Davis is only 13, but she also plays basketball and has expressed an interest in playing for Auriemma and the UConn Huskies. She does not qualify as a prospective student-athlete under NCAA guidelines.
"The nature of Coach Auriemma's two-minute conversation with Mo'ne had nothing to do with recruiting and instead had everything to do with congratulating and encouraging Mo'ne to continued success," Manuel said.
A secondary violation doesn't usually result in any NCAA penalties. Instead, the responsible party will face a rules education, a letter of admonishment and a possible ban to contact the specific recruit for a period of time.
