Combined legal fees for two recent investigations into University men’s athletics exceed $1 million, possibly making it the most costly athletics legal probe in University history.
A University spokeswoman said Wednesday the figure includes legal expenses billed to the University through July for the investigations into allegations of academic fraud and sexual misconduct.
The academic fraud report was scheduled to be due to University officials at the end of this month. Officials are expected to review the report in October and release the findings to the public in November.
Attorneys Donald Lewis of Minneapolis and Michael Glazier of Kansas City began the inquiry in March after a former men’s basketball tutor admitted she completed hundreds of academic papers for current and former players.
A separate probe into allegations that men’s athletics officials intervened in criminal sexual misconduct investigations was completed in July. Legal fees for that six-week investigation reached $312,406.
The investigation determined that men’s athletic officials intervened in at least 12 sexual misconduct investigations involving student-athletes since 1993. The report did not document systematic interference, however.
The legal fees and a $1.5 million contract buyout of former men’s basketball coach Clem Haskins will be paid out of the men’s athletics budget.
Men’s athletic officials refused to comment Wednesday.
Megan Boldt welcomes comments at [email protected].