Tennessee reduces basketball coach's pay

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The University of Tennessee announced Friday men's basketball Coach Bruce Pearl's pay would be reduced after he admitted giving false information to the NCAA.

Pearl will also not be allowed to make recruiting trips. His visits with potential players will be limited to their trips to the campus.

The coach admitted at a news conference Friday he attempted to mislead the NCAA during its investigation into school's basketball program.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported Thursday that impermissible phone calls to recruits were at the center of the investigation.

"I've made some serious mistakes and for that I'm truly sorry," Pearl said. "I provided incorrect and misleading information to the NCAA. I've learned some invaluable lessons. After I provided the false and misleading information, subsequently I went back and corrected the record.

"I learned that it's not okay to tell the truth most of the time, but that you have to tell the truth all of the time.

"I have no tolerable answer for why I didn't tell the truth the first time. I take full responsibility for my actions and those of my coaching staff. I apologize from the bottom of my heart that I let everybody down."

The Sentinel said the reduction in salary will amount to $1.5 million through the middle of 2015. The suspension from off-campus recruiting reportedly will begin Sept. 24 and last for a year.