News Summary
The University of Memphis has been placed on NCAA probation and fined for academic integrity violations in its men’s basketball and softball programs. This probation will be extended by two years, and the men’s basketball program will vacate three victories due to the infractions involving a former academic advisor and multiple players. The university also faces financial penalties, exposing ongoing challenges with NCAA compliance.
Memphis, TN โ The University of Memphis has been placed on NCAA probation and fined for committing academic integrity violations within its men’s basketball and softball programs. These infractions occurred during the 2023-24 season and involve multiple players and a former academic advisor.
Following negotiations with the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions, Memphis will face an extension of its existing probationary period by two years, now set to conclude in 2027. This extends Memphis’s ongoing challenges with NCAA compliance, as the university had already been under probation due to earlier infractions.
As part of the penalties, the universityโs men’s basketball program will be required to vacate three victories against Wichita State, Temple, and Tulane, all of which took place between January 25 and February 18, 2024. The softball program, however, will not have to vacate any wins because the team did not achieve any victories during that timeframe.
In addition to vacating wins, the university will incur a financial penalty of $30,000 along with 1% of the combined budgets for both the menโs basketball and softball programs.
Central to the violations is former men’s basketball player Malcolm Dandridge. Dandridge’s situation escalated when academic advisor Leslie Brooks was found to have engaged in improper practices, including arranging for student-athletes Ally Callahan and Aaliyah Dixon to complete coursework on his behalf. Brooks compensated the two softball players for their involvement, paying $150 for an assignment in an Intro to Theatre course and $400 for answers to three tests in a Health/Sport Terminology course.
Callahan participated in four games before the investigation was initiated, while Dixon played in nine games before being sidelined for 29 games following Brooks’ dismissal on February 23, 2024. The violations were brought to light when a softball athletic trainer overheard discussions among players, prompting an internal investigation.
Brooks ultimately acknowledged her actions as violations of NCAA rules and has received a 10-year show-cause penalty as a result. Dandridge, who had already earned his bachelor’s degree, was withheld from competition pending a review of his eligibility, marking an effective end to his career with the Tigers.
The University of Memphis has a history of infractions related to NCAA regulations. In 2022, the institution faced four Level II violations and five Level III violations pertaining to the management of James Wiseman’s eligibility status. Furthermore, coach Penny Hardaway was suspended for three games in 2023, following incidents involving impermissible in-home visits with a recruit.
The NCAA reported that the three student-athletes involved in these recent violations competed in 20 games while ineligible. This ongoing saga highlights the institution’s struggles to maintain compliance with NCAA academic integrity standards, a challenge that continues to develop as investigations reveal further issues.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
NCAA Imposes Penalties on University of Memphis for Violations
University of Memphis Faces NCAA Penalties for Violations
University of Memphis Athletic Department Facing Sanctions
Additional Resources
- Commercial Appeal
- ESPN
- Go Tigers Go
- Action News 5
- CBS Sports
- Wikipedia: NCAA
- Google Search: Memphis NCAA violations
- Google Scholar: Memphis basketball violations
- Encyclopedia Britannica: NCAA
- Google News: Memphis basketball NCAA news
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