University of Cincinnati Athletics has announced that they have relieved assistant baseball coach Kyle Sprague, and director of operations Andy Nagel from their duties due to potential violations of NCAA baseball program.
Initial findings enough to dismiss the case
Two Bearcats staff members were fired on the final day of UC’s season, the American Athletic Conference Tournament. The dismissals had been effective for a week prior.
According to the official statement issued by University of Cincinnati Athletics, on May 8, “an internal review of possible NCAA infractions involving baseball program” had been launched. While the investigation was still ongoing, “Sprague & Nagel were dismissed based upon initial findings.”
The statement went on to say that “UC is working with the NCAA” in this case, and that “since it is still an investigation”, University of Cincinnati Athletics will not comment further for the time being.
Sources at the University of Cincinnati claim that the infractions of the two staffers were not betting on Bearcat baseball games. Sprague, Nagel, and their colleagues were terminated because they did not report gambling information to the NCAA or athletics department.
The assistant coach, director, and a parent of a player who bet on the team had conversations and did not report it, violating NCAA rules for coaches and administrators, which require them to come forward with information if there is a violation.
Head Coach Future Unclear
Sources confirm that Sprague & Nagel didn’t make any decisions to alter lineups in order to influence the results of the games. Since the investigation is still ongoing, the UC has yet to decide the future of Scott Googins as head coach.
Sprague, a former hitting and infield assistant at Xavier University, joined University of Cincinnati Athletics in the summer of 2017, alongside Googins. He was also involved in the AAC as a Central Florida Knights.
Nagel was an assistant coach for Moeller High School before joining the Bearcats. He played at Moeller High School with Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Hyzdu, as well as David Bell, the current manager for the Cincinnati Reds.
The Bearcats lost their final match of the season to the East Carolina Pirates in Clearwater, Florida without Sprague or Nagel.
