Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce received an eight-year show cause order by the NCAA for recruiting violations during his time at Arizona State.
If he were to return to NCAA college football, he would be suspended for the first year.
“The majority of the violations, in this case, stemmed from a scheme in which Pierce, other members of the football staff, and a booster arranged unofficial visits to the school for roughly one year during the COVID-19 dead period,” the report stated. “During those visits, which occurred over 15 weekends, staff members had impermissible recruiting contacts — including tryouts, football facility tours, and entertainment — with 35 prospects and their families.”
LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Antonio Pierce of the Las Vegas Raiders stands on the sidelines during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, at Allegiant Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Antonio Pierce received eight-year show cause order from NCAA.
Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
The Raiders head coach spent four seasons at Arizona State. Pierce was an associate head coach under Herm Edwards. He was hired in December 2017.
In February 2020, Pierce earned his promotion to associate head coach. Edwards was fired by ASU after a 1-2 start to the 2022 season.
Pierce spent time coaching players such as Jayden Daniels, the rookie quarterback for the Washington Commanders. Daniels transferred from ASU following the 2021 season.
In April, Arizona State was punished by the NCAA with four years of probation, an undisclosed fine, vacated games in which ineligible players competed, reduced scholarships, and recruiting restrictions. Edwards was found guilty of committing a “responsibility violation.”
The NCAA report revealed Pierce used his title as associate head coach to force other members of staff to commit violations.
“Pierce used his position of authority to pressure staff members into engaging in violations, often by instilling fear that they would lose their jobs if they did not follow his orders,” the report says.
Pierce’s punishments come just a few months after the NCAA reprimanded Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh for recruiting violations during his time at Michigan.
However, the NCAA imposed a four-year show cause order on Harbaugh. Pierce’s show cause order is double that of the former Michigan head coach.
The NCAA investigation concluded that Pierce “arranged for or personally provided free meals, apparel, airfare and/or lodging for 27 prospects.” The report also revealed that “several members of the coaching staff indicated during their interviews with enforcement staff that Pierce ‘ran the show’ within the Arizona State football program, and they feared that not complying with Pierce’s directives would result in losing their jobs.”
Pierce landed with the Raiders in 2022 as a linebackers coach. Since then, Pierce was the interim head coach last season, before landing the official head coaching job ahead of the 2024 season.
For more NFL news, visit Newsweek Sports.
