Coaches Assn. Censures Neuheisel

SEATTLE —  Washington Coach Rick Neuheisel has been censured by the American Football Coaches Assn. ethics committee for comments on recruiting violations.

Neuheisel told the Seattle Times he was only trying to explain his side of the story, but the panel decided he had shown a lack of remorse and put him on probation for a year.

Violating probation could get Neuheisel booted from the association, an action that might be unprecedented but would have little if any impact on the Huskies’ program.

Washington Athletic Director Barbara Hedges said Wednesday she had not received a letter from the panel.

Asked to address the committee during the AFCA’s recent annual meeting in New Orleans, Neuheisel discussed more than 50 recruiting violations -- many involving illegal contact with recruits -- while he was coach at Colorado in 1995-98.

The Buffaloes were placed on two years’ probation and stripped of five scholarships for the violations last fall, and Neuheisel was barred from recruiting off campus through May 31.

“I told them what I did, which is documented in the NCAA report,” Neuheisel said. “The NCAA report tells just one side. I was trying to explain my side to my peers so maybe we could all benefit from my experience.”

Air Force Coach Fisher DeBerry, chairman of the ethics panel, saw it differently in a statement made public by CBS Sportsline.

Neuheisel demonstrated “that he is not willing to take responsibility for some of the infractions,” DeBerry said. “He showed the committee very little remorse for his actions and decisions.

“The committee felt there was very little respect for the NCAA by the coach, and the committee had real concern for his attitude and potential negative impact on other coaches.”

By contrast, when former Kentucky coach Hal Mumme answered questions about illegal payments to high school coaches and other violations, he showed he “accepts his responsibilities,” DeBerry said.

“It was unfortunate that that’s the way they took my demeanor,” Neuheisel said. “I didn’t mean to lack remorse. I feel terrible that I have put Washington in a negative light for things that happened at Colorado, but I was just trying to convey exactly what took place.”