"Over the last 24 hours, the University of Connecticut, the American Athletic Conference and the NCAA have been working together to determine whether a violation occurred when head women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma spoke with Mo'ne Davis over the phone during the 2014 Little League World Series," UConn athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement.
"The NCAA has determined a secondary rules violation of bylaw 13.1.3.1 did occur and while UConn accepts this decision, we do not agree with it.
While UConn will continue to adhere to the NCAA and conference rules, I believe that upon request from a friend to Geno, a proud Philadelphian, to call a young lady representing the City of Brotherly Love who had accomplished historic feats in the Little League World Series, should not constitute a violation especially due to the fact that NCAA rules do not classify Mo'ne as a prospective student-athlete.
The nature of Coach Auriemma's two-minute conversation with Mo'ne had nothing to do with recruiting and instead had everything to do with congratulating and encouraging Mo'ne to continued success.
I consider this matter closed and we will have no further comment."
The NCAA investigated after a complaint was filed with AAC on behalf of a rival Division I athletic program. The Hartford Courant reports "neither the Atlantic Coast Conference nor the American Athletic Conference were responsible for the complaint made against Auriemma."
Auriemma says he knows which conference complained, but declined to publicly make any specific accusations. Secondary rules violations are not usually punishable with NCAA sanctions or penalties. Auriemma will likely receive a letter of admonishment and may be banned from speaking with Mo'ne for some time.
