Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall has lawyered up in anticipation of a meeting with the NCAA early next week, according to ESPN's Jeff Goodman.
Tyndall, who is part of an NCAA investigation into who paid for housing, tuition and living expenses for two members of the Southern Miss basketball team while they were ineligible, is reportedly set to meet with the NCAA on Tuesday.
Donnie Tyndall (AP Photo)According to ESPN's report, he's already solicited the services of Stuart Brown, an Indianapolis-based collegiate sports practice lawyer for the firm Ice Miller. Tyndall said last week that he had yet to be contacted by the NCAA, but that he would agree to participate in any investigation should they contact him.
Though the original report about the investigation did not name any student-athletes in particular, ESPN's report cites forward Matt Bingaya and Shadell Millinghaus as the two basketball players believed to have received the improper aid. Bingaya, currently a redshirt sophomore, sat out the 2012-13 after being ruled academically ineligible. Millinghaus, a sophomore, spent last season at Believe Prep in Rock Hill, S.C.
Tennessee, who said prior to hiring Tyndall that the school had thoroughly examined his background, stood by its vetting process with an athletic department spokesman telling ESPN:
"We have an extensive vetting process with all potential coaching candidates, including very specific conversations with the NCAA and school officials at Southern Miss regarding compliance during Coach Tyndall's tenure there, during which no issues were brought to our attention."
Source: ESPN
