November 12, 2018

TO: SEC Presidents and Chancellors

SEC Athletics Directors

FR: Greg Sankey, Commissioner

RE: Possible Employment of Former Ole Miss Head Football Coach Hugh Freeze

I have been contacted recently by several SEC institutions regarding interest in employing
Hugh Freeze as a potential football staff member. SEC member institutions make
independent personnel decisions after meeting the expectations of SEC Bylaw 19.8.1.2,
which requires institutions to contact the NCAA and SEC offices regarding a potential
hire’s compliance background prior to offering employment. This memorandum is
intended to inform each institution of Mr. Freeze’s status with respect to the Conference.
As a reminder, Mr. Freeze was the head coach at the University of Mississippi during the
time when many of the violations discussed in the NCAA Division I Committee on
Infractions (“Committee”) Public Report released December 1, 2018, occurred. A copy of
the Committee’s report is attached. The Committee found that many serious violations
were committed by or with the involvement of football staff members and described the
violations as “cut[ting] against and undermin[ing] core principles of the collegiate model.”
Mr. Freeze was directly involved in some of the less serious violations. The infractions
case caused substantial reputational harm to the University and the Conference, as well
as significant competitive and financial penalties to the University.
Mr. Freeze was charged individually with a Level I violation of NCAA Bylaw 11.1.1.1 (Head
Coach Control). The Committee determined Mr. Freeze guilty of the allegation, finding
that he failed to adequately monitor his football staff and program and its interaction
with boosters. Mr. Freeze did not appeal the Committee’s finding.

The Committee stated the following and imposed a “show cause order” on Mr. Freeze:
The head coach fell short of his monitoring responsibilities when members of
his staff committed intentional violations and deliberately involved boosters
in the recruitment of prized prospects. . . . Throughout his tenure as head
football coach at Mississippi, the head coach failed to monitor certain aspects
of his staff's involvement in the recruiting process for his program.
Specifically, he failed to monitor the interactions of certain staff members
 with prospects, both on- and off-campus, and their interactions with his
program's boosters. (pg. 45)

The head coach was responsible for the violations committed by members of
his staff. He failed to monitor certain aspects of the recruiting process . . . .
Therefore, pursuant to Bylaw 19.9.5.5, any member institution hiring the
head coach as a head football coach during a one-year period, December 1,
2017, through November 30, 2018, shall suspend the head coach for the first
two conference contests of the 2018 football season. (pg. 56-57).

Pursuant to the authority granted to me as Commissioner under SEC Constitution, Article

4.4, I am imposing the following conditions and restrictions related to Mr. Freeze should
he be employed by an SEC member institution:

1. Due to Mr. Freeze having been found to have committed a Level I violation in the
NCAA Infractions Case and in accordance with SEC Bylaw 19.8.1.2, the President or
Chancellor of a member institution is expected to consult directly with the SEC
Commissioner prior to offering employment to Mr. Freeze.
2. Within thirty days of Mr. Freeze’s hiring, the institution’s Athletics Director, Faculty
Athletics Representative, head of compliance, head football coach and Mr. Freeze will
meet with me at the Conference office in Birmingham. Prior to this meeting, the
institution will provide me a written plan explaining its compliance oversight of Mr.
Freeze, and the plan is to be approved and signed by the President or Chancellor.
3. Mr. Freeze will be required to attend an NCAA Regional Rules meeting in 2019 and
2020. Mr. Freeze will remain for at least two days of the meeting and will attend as
many sessions as possible during that time.
4. Mr. Freeze will be prohibited from off-campus recruiting activities until August 1,
2019.
5. Based upon the Committee on Infractions findings, any future violation of NCAA or
SEC Bylaws involving Mr. Freeze will be subject to additional scrutiny.

You are welcome to contact William King or me if you have any questions regarding this
information.

GS/wk