The consequences for ousted Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon and Bert Neff continued this week. The two allegedly shared insider information about a baseball match between Alabama and LSU and used that information to bet on the game at Ohio sportsbooks.
Neff charged with one count of obstruction
For Neff, the consequences include pleading guilty to one count of obstructing a federal investigation. According to Northern Alabama District Court filings, Neff allegedly destroyed evidence, tampered with witnesses and provided false statements to FBI agents as the organization investigated the case.
Per the filing, Neff twice destroyed his phone after communicating with Bohannon about the game and attempting to bet $100,000 on the game with BetMGM Sportsbook in Cincinnati, OH. Additionally, he spoke with other witnesses extensively, encouraging them not to speak to the authorities about what transpired.
When Neff was interviewed by authorities, he initially claimed that Bohannon did not tell him directly about the injured pitcher and he had learned it from other sources.
Bohannon placed on probation and fined by NCAA
Meanwhile, the NCAA released its conclusions on Bohannon, who was dismissed from Alabama shortly after the incident. Like Neff, Bohannon initially tried to avoid cooperating and did not speak with the NCAA, which was another violation of league policy.
According to the NCAA release, Bohannon texted the information about the injured pitcher to Neff and waited to inform the opposing team until Neff confirmed he had placed a bet.
“Integrity of games is of the utmost importance to NCAA members, and the panel is deeply troubled by Bohannon’s unethical behavior,” said Vince Nicastro, deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of the Big East and chief hearing officer for the panel. “Coaches, student-athletes and administrators have access to information deemed valuable to those involved in betting. Improperly sharing that information for purposes of sports betting cuts to the heart of the honesty and sportsmanship we expect of our members and is particularly egregious when shared by those who have the ability to influence the outcome of games.”
Since Bohannon did not participate in an interview with the NCAA, the group reached its conclusion through a “negotiated resolution process”. Bohannon will face the following penalties:
- Three years of probation
- $5,000 fine
- A 15-year show-cause order where any NCAA organization employing Bohannon keep him separated from anything related to athletics
- Alabama must retain EPIC Global Solutions to implement a student-athlete gambling education and awareness program
Back in November, both Bohannon and Neff were placed on Ohio’s involuntary self-exclusion list of prohibited bettors.
