The NCAA slapped former NFL and Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards with a five-year show-cause penalty for alleged recruiting violations with over 30 prospects during the COVID-19 no-visit period, according to multiple Wednesday reports.
The show-cause penalty will force any school that wishes to hire Edwards to accept the penalties on his behalf, making it difficult for the NFL legend to find another job.
Edwards stepped down as head coach of the school in 2022.
Edwards is one of seven Sun Devils staff members accused of participating in an impermissible recruiting operation, according to 247sports.com. The six other staffers also received show-cause penalties between three and 10 years, according to 247 and CBS Sports.
Edwards and others who received lighter penalties cooperated with investigators to a degree that some of the other staffers didn’t, according to the reports. (RELATED: Major College Football Program Cuts Ties With Heisman Winner’s Mom After She Allegedly Paid For Recruits’ Flights)
Derek Hagan, the school’s former co-wide receivers coach, received a 10-year penalty and Robert Rodriguez, Arizona State’s former defensive line coach who now works for the Arizona Cardinals, received an eight-year penalty for what the NCAA deemed to be “limited cooperation,” according to 247.
As part of their deal with the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions Arizona State will vacate nine of its 10 wins from the 2021-22 season because it allegedly used ineligible players at the time, according to 247. (RELATED: REPORT: Arizona State’s Football Program Is Under Investigation)
BREAKING: Herm Edwards agreed to a five-year show-cause penalty—one of the longest ever for a football HC—with the NCAA’s COI for his significant role in Arizona State’s recruiting violations case, per sources.
Six staffers got 3-10 years. Full details:https://t.co/0rLpZO4maO
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) April 23, 2024
Edwards, who now works as an ESPN analyst, received a $4.4 million severance from the Sun Devils after his 2022 resignation, according to 247.