Raiders’ Antonio Pierce offered perks to recruits and parents, like trips to the strip club and shooting range while at ASU, NCAA says

CNN
—

Trips to a strip club, a shooting range and free plane tickets were some of the perks offered under a plan hatched by current Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce , aimed at wooing potential Arizona State University (ASU) football players and their parents while the former NFL player served as an assistant coach for the Sun Devils, according to an NCAA Infractions Decision Report released THURSDAY.

Pierce, who held several positions, including associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, at ASU from 2017 to 2022, was sanctioned by the governing body for an alleged banned recruiting scheme lasting about a year.

Pierce currently coaches in the NFL, so the sanctions, which include an eight-year show cause order and a one-season suspension if he returned to the college ranks, would not waste the coach’s time with the Raiders .

CNN has contacted Pierce, the Raiders and ASU for comment.

Pierce “consistently denied planning or arranging any part of the visits, providing recruiting incentives, or participating in out-of-state contacts and evaluations,” according to an NCAA press release.

In the 67-page report, the NCAA provided what it described as multiple examples of the former Super Bowl champion knowingly and repeatedly engaging in prohibited activities. recruiting violations.

Pierce, former ASU football defensive analyst Anthony Garnett, other ASU-related personnel, then Regina Jackson, mother of former ASU quarterback Jayden Daniels, who now runs Washington’s QB commanders, took unofficial visits during the NCAA recruiting “dead period.” “in 2020 and 2021 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the report indicates.

CNN has contacted Garnett and Jackson for comment.

The NCAA said the former NFL linebacker “participated in an interview with law enforcement personnel and admitted to certain facts surrounding the unofficial visits” but was uncooperative during investigation and denied arranging unofficial visits, in Arizona and out of state, with potential new players.

In the report, the NCAA accused Pierce of being the “ringleader” who pressured his staff to provide impermissible benefits such as free airfare, lodging, meals and entertainment expenses to 35 prospects and their families on approximately 20 occasions.

The report states: “In his own words, Pierce ‘new to the rules, tried to keep up with the Jones(es)’ and ‘broke the rules to do so.’ As the “quarterback” of the scheme, Pierce pressured younger and/or less experienced personnel members to engage in violations.

“Several staff members said they feared losing their jobs if they did not follow Pierce’s directives to bring prospects to campus during the off period. Pierce’s conduct illustrates not only a blatant disregard for NCAA regulations, but also a complete indifference to the well-being of the staff members who reported to him,” the NCAA Infractions Decision Report states. .

The NCAA described occasions when Pierce allegedly met with recruits and families at an off-campus residence and arranged a visit to a shooting range and a local “gentleman’s club.”

The NCAA report says eight prospects who participated in unauthorized visits ultimately attended college and played 19 football games while ineligible.

Pierce and the Raiders will face the Broncos in Denver on Sunday.