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Raiders Coach Antonio Pierce Receives Eight-Year NCAA Penalty for Arizona State Violations Involving Strip Club

Oct 3, 2024, 05:24 PM

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce has been handed an eight-year show-cause penalty by the NCAA for significant recruiting violations that occurred during his tenure as associate head coach at Arizona State University. Pierce was found to have orchestrated a 'program-wide effort' to engage in impermissible recruiting activities during the COVID-19 dead period, which included hosting 35 prospects despite restrictions on in-person visits. Among the violations, Pierce provided impermissible benefits such as meals, apparel, airfare, lodging, local transportation, and entertainment expenses, including taking a prospect's parents to a gentlemen's club. Notably, only eight of the 35 prospects later enrolled at Arizona State. The NCAA report stated that Pierce 'ran the show' and 'did not fear the potential consequences for NCAA violations due to the financial security provided by his self-proclaimed wealth.' Pierce also failed to cooperate with the investigation, providing false or misleading information and refusing to participate further. If Pierce returns to college coaching within the next eight years, he will be suspended for the first season of his employment.