According to NCAA infractions committee chairwoman Josephine Potuto, BYU's compliance department knew of the violations and alerted the former coach, Tom Peterson, but didn't follow through. BYU self-imposed a two-year probation and the NCAA added another year.
"Oversight of rules compliance is an absolute condition of NCAA membership," Potuto said.
The men's volleyball team will lose a partial scholarship for the next two years and face recruiting limits.
"We are pleased to have this process behind us and to now have the opportunity to move forward," said BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe in a release. "From our initial self-report of violations to the NCAA until today's announcement, we consider this a valuable learning experience and are appreciative of the NCAA for its thoroughness and for its willingness to work with us in such a cooperative and helpful manner.
"With the NCAA accepting the actions we self-imposed, it is a clear indication to us that the Committee on Infractions understands how serious we believe these violations to be, and how committed we are to making sure this does not happen again."
Peterson, whose recruiting tactics had been criticized by opposing coaches, resigned as coach on Sept. 7, 2006. Peterson was hired in 2002, led the Cougars to a national runner-up finish in 2003 and a national championship in 2004. Overall, Peterson's teams were 90-30.
A statement released by his lawyer, Peterson believes he is being made a scapegoat.
"The fact that rules were violated in spite of our consistent efforts to foster compliance proves only that even the most conscientious efforts on the part of the head coach are not always enough to prevent players, boosters, and even coaches from technical mistakes," Peterson said.
Among the violations was $17,000 in legal fees paid for "humanitarian aid" to who is believed to be Yosleyder Cala, a Cuban defector, who played for BYU in 2006 and 2007 but left after his sophomore year. He is now playing professionally in Greece.
