A long-awaited decision by the NCAA will soon be known. Former Ball State women's tennis coach Kathy Bull presented her appeal to the NCAA Appeals Committee in November in hopes of overturning sanctions levied against her by the NCAA.
Michael Buckner, an attorney based in Florida who represented Bull in the appeals process, said he expects to hear the NCAA's decision in the first week of February. However, the decision could be delayed due to NCAA offices being closed for the holidays in December.
"For the first time, Coach Bull received a full and fair hearing," Buckner said. "The NCAA listened to everything we presented to them."
A July 14, 2010 decision by the NCAA ruled that Bull and Ball State committed multiple rules violations, including excessive practice requirements.
Ball State was hit with a three-year probationary sentence on top of self-imposed restriction of practice hours. Ball State athletic director Tom Collins indicated in July that Ball State would not appeal the sanctions levied by the NCAA.
The Infractions Appeal Committee is the final appeal option for an institution or individual involved in infraction cases. Bull cannot appeal again if the three-year show-cause sanction against her is upheld by the Infractions Appeal Committee.
According to the NCAA's website, sanctions can be overturned if the ruling by the Committee on Infractions was contrary to the evidence, the individual or school did not break NCAA rules, a procedural error caused the committee to find a violation, or if the penalty was excessive or an abuse of discretion.
Buckner said there were many arguments to be made concerning the nature of Ball State's investigation of the women's tennis program and Bull. According to Buckner, the hearing went well.
"We got a lot of comments that we saw as positive," he said. "We're hopeful about our chances. We'll find out soon if it was enough to overturn the sanctions."
The legal proceedings are not finished for Bull with the final decision by the Appeals Committee. Ball State is being sued by Bull for wrongful termination.
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