NCAA penalizes U. Richmond teams

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Eight University of Richmond sports teams have been penalized for what the NCAA said were impermissible text messages and phone calls to recruiting prospects.

The school failed properly to monitor its sports programs, the NCAA said Thursday.

The NCAA said the violations were mostly in the men's and women's basketball programs.

The organization's Committee on Infractions concluded the head coaches of the men's and women's basketball teams "did not promote an atmosphere of compliance," the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch reported.

More than 500 impermissible text messages and 83 phone calls were made to 17 prospective student-athletes and parents, the NCAA said.

Also cited by the NCAA were the football and baseball teams and the women's lacrosse, golf, soccer and track teams.

Penalties included two years probation and multiple recruiting restrictions.