SEC sets steep penalties for programs and coaches adding former pros to rosters
The SEC announced that schools and head coaches who sign former NFL or NBA players in violation of its new rule will face a half-season suspension for coaches, loss of voting rights for schools and fines equal to half of the sport’s annual operating budget.
The SEC has detailed the sanctions it will impose on member schools and head coaches that add former professional athletes to their rosters in breach of an emergency rule adopted earlier this month. A head coach who violates the rule would be suspended for half a season, while the offending institution would lose its voting privileges on conference matters and be fined 50 percent of the sport’s annual operating budget. The conference also retained the authority for its commissioner and the presidents and chancellors to impose additional penalties if deemed necessary.
The rule, passed unanimously by the conference, applies to any athlete who declared for the NFL, NBA or WNBA draft, signed a professional contract, or appeared on a professional roster. A tryout without a contract does not trigger the sanction, as illustrated by the case of Texas offensive lineman Cole Hutson, who remains eligible after only working out for NFL teams.
The policy follows recent court decisions that restored eligibility for athletes affected by the 2022 class rulings, prompting schools such as LSU to sign former NFL players Dae'Quan Wright and Xzavian Harris. LSU head coach Lane Kiffin, who plans to challenge the rule, said, "You can't decide, 'Hey, I like that injunction, I don't like that one.'" Other conferences, including the ACC, Big 12, Sun Belt and independent Notre Dame, are reportedly considering similar regulations.