SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz, who admitted giving money to two athletes in violation of NCAA rules, faced new charges of football recruiting violations Tuesday involving an Ohio high school player.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Tuesday that high school senior KiJana Carter stayed free in a university dormitory, received sports equipment from Notre Dame and his mother stayed with an Irish booster during a recruiting visit.
Carter's high school coach in Westerville, Ohio, is a Notre Dame graduate and was also accused of denying proper contact from other schools to favor the Irish.
Dick Rosenthal, Notre Dame's athletic director, denied the report, which was based on information from an unidentified college coach.
'We've researched the comments made and we find them to be completely without foundation,' Rosenthal said. 'Our research indicates the university's recruiting of this individual has been handled entirely within NCAA rules. We're not aware of any irregularities having occurred or being reported.'
The story said officials at Penn State and Ohio State reported Notre Dame to the NCAA, but the sanctioning body for college sports said it had not received such complaints.
Holtz admitted last Friday he gave money to two players while coach at Minnesota. An NCAA investigation into the Gophers' sports program turned up 21 violations, including three by Holtz during his two seasons as football coach, 1984 and 1985.
Holtz cited 'humanitarian reasons' for paying tuition so an academically ineligible athlete could take a class he needed to graduate and paying a recruit $20 to replace money that was lost or stolen on his recruiting visit. Holtz said he now feels the latter incident was a mistake.
The third charge, giving an athletic department official $500 to be paid to Minnesota players, was denied by Holtz.
Incidents involving Carter are the first recruiting actions questioned during Holtz's five years as coach of the Irish. Notre Dame recruiting classes generally have been regarded as the nation's best over the past three seasons.
Holtz was also the target of reports he would be pressured to leave the school because of recruiting violations, with the NFL a likely next job. Holtz has denied any interest in leaving Notre Dame or taking an NFL position. School officials last week supported Holtz and said his job was not in jeopardy.
Holtz completes his fifth season with the Irish, and 21st as a college coach, when No. 6 Notre Dame faces No. 1 Colorado in the Orange Bowl Jan. 1.
