Antonio Pierce is the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, but the NCAA is still punishing him for his past actions.
Pierce was handed an eight-year show-cause order for violations that occurred during his time as an assistant coach at Arizona State, including “taking a prospect’s parents to a gentlemen’s club.”
The NCAA announced the suspension on Thursday. If he ever returns to the college game, he will be suspended from all athletic activities for his entire first season of employment in addition to the show-cause order.
Antonio Pierce was given the punishment for his role in “a program wide effort to engage in impermissible recruiting activities during the COVID-19 dead period.”
It was earlier this year when the NCAA revealed that it punished Arizona State for recruiting violations that occurred under former head coach Herm Edwards.
The program was issued four years of probation, an undisclosed fine, and recruiting restrictions that included reduced scholarships. Arizona State was also forced to vacate games in which ineligible players competed, and Edwards was given a five-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA.
They did not receive a bowl ban since they self-imposed one in 2023.
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In an interview with NCAA enforcement staff last year, Antonio Pierce acknowledged that he met with prospects during the dead period, but added that he did so to help Arizona State keep pace with other schools.
He told the infractions committee that he “broke the rules to do it, straight forward.”
Pierce denied helping arrange payment for recruiting visits, but he suggested that other staff members did use their credit cards to cover visit expenses without his knowledge.
Antonio Pierce Has More Fish To Fry In The NFL
Former Arizona State assistant coach Antonio Pierce violated recruiting rules during the COVID-19 dead period, and the NCAA handed down an eight-year show-cause punishment for his violations at Arizona State.
Aside from that, Pierce has bigger fish to fry in the NFL, as trade rumors are swirling regarding star wide receiver Davante Adams.
It began with him liking a post about the wideout playing his last game with the team, and things spiraled from there.
