Thursday the NCAA came down hard on Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce for recruiting violations during COVID protocols. Here is what ESPN’s report stated was Pierce’s violations.
Most of the violations were related to what the NCAA referred to as a “scheme” orchestrated by Pierce to circumvent restrictions in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pierce facilitated impermissible recruiting contact with 35 prospects, including “tryouts, football facility tours and entertainment.” It was also determined he directed an assistant to engage in tampering with a player enrolled at another school and traveled out of state to observe and meet with prospects during a recruiting dead period.
In response to these violations, the NCAA has slapped Pierce with an eight-year show-cause order for what they say was his role as “the ringleader in orchestrating the recruiting violations.”
Among those who were recruited by ASU during that time include Washington QB Jayden Daniels and Raiders CB Jack Jones.
This isn’t a good look for Pierce to be sure. And more negative press and distraction for the Raiders.
Outside of that, the NCAA’s penalty will not affect Pierce as an NFL coach or the Raiders.
What it means for him personally if at any point during the next eight years, he wishes to return to the college ranks as a coach, he would first have to serve a one-year suspension which includes no contact with any of the program’s coaches or players during that time.