Ex-Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon gets 15-year, show-cause penalty after gambling scandal

Ex-Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon has received a 15-year show-cause for violating NCAA wagering and ethical conduct rules, the NCAA announced Thursday.

The punishment means any school would have to show-cause why it should be able to hire Bohanon and if a school hired him during that time, he would be suspended for 100% of the baseball regular season for the first five seasons.

Through its investigation, the NCAA discovered Bohannon "knowingly provided insider information to an individual he knew to be engaged in betting on an Alabama baseball game."

Bohannon was fired for cause as Alabama baseball coach on May 4. And he "failed to participate in the enforcement investigation," which was also a violation of NCAA rules, per the release.

"Integrity of games is of the utmost importance to NCAA members, and the panel is deeply troubled by Bohannon's unethical behavior," Vince Nicastro, deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of the Big East and chief hearing officer for the panel, said in a statement. "Coaches, student-athletes and administrators have access to information deemed valuable to those involved in betting. Improperly sharing that information for purposes of sports betting cuts to the heart of the honesty and sportsmanship we expect of our members and is particularly egregious when shared by those who have the ability to influence the outcome of games."

Bohannon used an encrypted messaging app to provide insider information about the starting lineup before Bohannon shared the lineup with LSU on April 28. Alabama pitcher Luke Holman had been scratched late from the starting lineup for that Friday game, which Holman later confirmed was for a back issue.

"Bohannon texted, '(Student-athlete) is out for sure … Lemme know when I can tell (the opposing team) … Hurry'," the NCAA wrote.  

Then the bettor on the other end of the texts tried to place a $100,000 wager on the game. He was only allowed to place a $15,000 bet, though, and when he tried to bet more, the staff at the sportsbook in Ohio declined them because of suspicious activity.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission then suspended wagers on Alabama baseball after the suspicious activity. States such as Indiana, Pennsylvania and New Jersey did as well.

The core penalties for level I — mitigated violations for Alabama will include a $5,000 fine and three years of probation.

Alabama went on to make a Super Regional in the NCAA tournament with interim coach Jason Jackson. Then the Crimson Tide hired Rob Vaughn in June to lead the program.