LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky and the NCAA reached a settlement Friday over violations that included 11 football players being paid for work they did not perform in 2021 and 2022.
The negotiated resolution said the school agreed with the NCAA Committee on Infractions that some football players were receiving impermissible benefits and that rules violations were occurring in the school's swimming program.
Kentucky agreed to serve two years of probation, pay an undisclosed fine and expunge records of all games in which ineligible football players competed.
Of the 11 players who received payments for not working, eight played and received “actual and necessary expenses while ineligible.”
The school and the NCAA agreed that no member of the athletic department knew or “reasonably” should have known about the no-shows.
Kentucky agreed with the NCAA regarding the swimming violations, which involved male and female swimmers not being given required days off and exceeding practice hours over three years.
The school admitted that it failed to oversee its swimming and diving program and that the head coach was responsible for the violations.
Kentucky said its former swimming and diving coach was not involved in the settlement, so his side of the case will be considered separately by the NCAA Committee on Infractions.
Lars Jorgensen, Kentucky's swimming coach from 2014-2023, was not named in the NCAA or school's statements Friday. Jorgensen resigned in June 2023 amid sexual assault allegations.
Kentucky said in a statement it could not comment further until the NCAA released its full decision.
“We respect the findings. There is a process that we are engaged in. We accept the final resolution and move forward,” said University President Eli Caplouto in a message to the Kentucky community.
The NCAA said Kentucky can begin serving sanctions while it awaits a final decision from the infractions committee.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
