Stan Van Gundy believes NCAA targeting women's sports with NIL sanctions

NS_headshot_clearbackgroundby:Nick Schultz•02/24/23•

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Friday, the NCAA announced penalties against Miami women’s basketball regarding impermissible contact between booster John Ruiz and the Cavinder Twins during their recruitment. That ruling prompted a poignant response from NBA analyst — and former Orlando Magic coach — Stan Van Gundy.

During Hanna and Haley Cavinder’s recruitment after transferring from Fresno State, the two had an impermissible meal with Ruiz, as On3’s Pete Nakos reported. Ruiz posted a picture of the dinner on social media, but the NCAA said he violated rules by contacting them. As a result, Miami coach Katie Meyer missed the first three games of the season.

That led to a response from Van Gundy via Twitter — featuring some not-so-veiled sarcasm.

“Not at all surprising that the first team to be sanctioned for violations of NIL improprieties is a women’s basketball team,” Van Gundy tweeted. “Rest assured that no violations have occurred in football or men’s basketball. It is women’s sports the NCAA has to clean up.”

Here’s the full list of penalties, which the NCAA committee approved Friday:

  • One year of probation.
  • A $5,000 fine plus 1% of the women’s basketball budget.
  • A 7% reduction in the number of official visits in women’s basketball during the 2022-23 academic year.
  • A reduction of nine recruiting-person days in women’s basketball during the 2022-23 academic year.
  • A three-week prohibition against recruiting communications by women’s basketball staff beginning with the open date of the Transfer Portal (from March 13 through April 2, 2023).
  • A 10% suspension (three games total) for the head coach, which was served during the first three contests for the 2022-23 season.

John Ruiz responds to NCAA announcement

Ruiz is the founder of LifeWallet and a prominent booster at Miami. He has helped orchestrate deals for multiple Hurricanes athletes, including a landmark deal with Kansas State transfer Nijel Pack. He responded to the ruling in a text message to On3 on Friday.

“The NCAA’s findings are nothing but an attempt to say they did something,” Ruiz said. “To single out two excellent young ladies that decided with their family that UM was the best school for them before even discussing any NIL is sad. I also feel bad for their coach, she is a great person and amazing for the women’s basketball team. I was never contacted about these decisions by UM or the NCAA. However, if it would have affected our agreements in any way the NCAA would have their hands full.

“An entity entering into an NIL deal is protected by the constitution. How can you negotiate with anyone if you can’t talk with them. Not only is the in violation of the constitution, it’s also retarded. … To pick two stellar young ladies who may have the highest NIL value in the country is pretty silly and shows incompetence. I see that the NCAA will not last long. I suspect they will have substantial litigation heading their way.”