Raiders' Antonio Pierce Receives Eight-Year NCAA Show-Cause for COVID Dead Period Recruiting Violations

Oct 3, 2024, 04:10 PM

Antonio Pierce, the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, has received an eight-year show-cause order from the NCAA due to recruiting violations committed during his tenure at Arizona State University. The NCAA declared that Pierce 'ran the show' in a program-wide effort to engage in impermissible recruiting activities during the COVID-19 dead period, involving 35 prospects. These activities included taking recruits’ parents to gentlemen’s clubs, paying for travel expenses on unofficial visits, and other infractions. After leaving Arizona State, Pierce failed to cooperate with the NCAA investigation. Anthony Garnett, a support staff member, also received penalties. If Pierce were to be hired by an NCAA member school during this period, he would be suspended for the first year. This significant penalty effectively hinders Pierce’s return to college coaching in the near future.