Kansas State University Athletics

Compliance Coaches & Staff

RECRUITING 

NCAA member schools have adopted rules to create an equitable recruiting environment that promotes student-athlete well-being. The rules define who may be involved in the recruiting process, when recruiting may occur and the conditions under which recruiting may be conducted. Recruiting rules seek, as much as possible, to control intrusions into the lives of student-athletes.

The NCAA defines recruiting as "any solicitation of prospective student-athletes or their parents by an institutional staff member or by a representative of the institution’s athletics interests for the purpose of securing a prospective student-athlete’s enrollment and ultimate participation in the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program."

ATHLETE ELIGIBLITY 

Because intercollegiate athletics is part of the fabric of the university, student-athletes must be committed to academic achievement and the pursuit of a degree. Student-athletes must meet academic standards throughout their careers on campus to remain eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics. Member institutions in each division create academic standards specific to that division’s goals. Eligibility to compete is tied to several factors. Learn more below:

CONTACTING FACULTY & ACADEMIC OFFICIALS 

All K-State students are subject to the K-State Honor Pledge and the policies and procedures of the K-STATE HONOR AND INTEGRITY SYSTEM. These policies and procedures apply to all full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students in courses on-campus, off-campus, and online.

In order to support and protect the academic integrity of our student-athletes and avoid any possible conflict of interest, K-State Athletics has the following policy regarding contact and communication with faculty and academic officials::

  • Coaches and non-coaching support staff members (e.g. Director of Operations) may not directly initiate any communication (oral or written) with K-State faculty members, administrators (e.g. Admissions Office, Registrar’s Office, Dean, Assistant Dean, etc.) or associated instructional staff (e.g. teaching assistant) with respect to any student-athlete. Such contact is strictly prohibited under this policy and specifically includes any conversation of a student-athlete’s academic standing or performance.
    Exception: This policy does not apply to contact with a faculty or staff member that is general in nature (i.e., contact that is not specific to a particular student-athlete) or which is related to setting up a meeting with a prospective student-athlete that is visiting K-State.
  • All coaches and non-coaching support staff members should contact the K-State Student-Athlete Services Office if they have any questions about a student-athlete’s academic performance, academic standing, grades, eligibility, admissions status, etc.
  • Only authorized K-State Student-Athlete Services/Compliance Office staff members or the Faculty Athletic Representative shall initiate conversations with K-State faculty members, administrators, or associated instructional staff regarding a student-athlete. If a coach or non-coaching staff member receives an email, phone call, or contact initiated by a faculty or staff member regarding a student-athlete’s academic performance, the coach or non-coaching staff member must immediately refer the faculty or staff member to contact the K-State Student Athlete Services Office.
  • Student-athletes must complete and submit all of their own academic assignments to their professors or instructors. It is strictly prohibited for coaches or non-coaching staff members to assist a student-athlete with or submit any assignments on behalf of a student-athlete.
COUNTABLE ATHLETICALLY RELATED ACTIVITIES (CARA) 

The NCAA requires that teams monitor and adhere to limitations regarding countable athletically related activities (“CARA”). The K-State Compliance Office will work to ensure that student-athletes do not engage in CARA in excess of NCAA limits and are provided the required number of days off each week. Under NCAA rules, CARA include any required activities with an athletics purpose involving student-athletes and at the direction of, or supervised by, one or more of an institution’s coaching staff (including strength and conditioning coaches). All student-athletes and coaches are annually provided with an educational session that summarizes CARA regulations and the process for verifying practice logs in JumpForward. All Head Coaches (or designee) are responsible for accurately tracking the daily and weekly CARA hours for all student-athletes on their team for each week of the academic year and reporting them on the practice logs in JumpForward. For football and basketball, practice logs must also be submitted in the summer to track “summer access” participation. At the beginning of each academic year, head coaches shall submit a playing season declaration and designate their 7 day “countable week” (e.g. Sunday to Saturday). This “countable week” shall be entered into JumpForward by the Compliance Office and utilized to setup all practice logs for the academic year based on when the team is “in-season” or “out-of-season” pursuant to NCAA rules.

At the completion of each week, a coach/designee from each team will accurately enter all CARA hours for all student-athletes on their team in JumpForward. All CARA hours for student-athletes must meet all NCAA daily and weekly limits as DESCRIBED HERE. The coach/designee for each sport shall electronically verify, sign, and submit the practice logs in JumpForward to the Compliance Office within 1 week following the activities. If not received within 7 days, a reminder will be sent to the coach/designee and head coach for that respective sport to submit the log(s) to the Compliance Office. If necessary, after 14 days, notification will be sent to the sport administrator that the log has not been received. The Compliance Office will review each sport’s logs for compliance with NCAA rules and assign the logs to student-athletes on each particular team for validation. The student-athletes shall approve or disapprove the assigned practice log(s) in JumpForward. If approved by the student-athlete(s), the Compliance Office shall approve the log in JumpForward. If the log is disapproved by the student-athlete(s), the Compliance Office shall meet with the student-athlete to follow-up on the reason for the disapproval and determine what action, if any, needs to be taken.

Voluntary Athletically Related Activities

The following conditions must be met for an athletic activity to be considered voluntary and not “countable” under NCAA rules:

  • Coaches and non-coaching sport staff may not be present during voluntary activities (exception – strength coaches and athletic trainers may be present for health and safety purposes);***
  • The SA must know it is voluntary and must not be required to report any information related to the activity back to the coach or any athletic staff member;
  • No staff member (e.g. manager, trainer, strength coach) may report any information back to the coaches about the activity;
  • The activity must be initiated and requested solely by the student athlete;
  • The student athlete’s attendance may not be recorded and the student may not be subject to any penalties if he/she does not participate;
  • Coaches/staff may not provide any incentive or recognition (e.g. awards) to student-athletes’ based on attendance or performance in the activity;

***Coaches in rowing and track (field events, hurdles, steeplechase only) may be present, supervise, and provide skill instruction for safety purposes during voluntary workouts under NCAA rules. Coaches may not conduct the individuals’ workouts.

K-State Policy on Monitoring CARA

 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Are you a Representative of K-State's Athletic Interests (i.e., Booster)?

You are a representative of K-State's athletic interests, commonly referred to as a booster, if you meet any of the following conditions:

  • You have participated in or you are a member of an agency or organization that promotes Kansas State Athletics;
  • You have made financial contributions to the athletic department or to an athletic booster organization of Kansas State University;
  • You have been involved in promoting K-State's athletic program;
  • You have provided benefits (i.e., summer employment or occasional family meals) to enrolled student-athletes;
  • You are the parent or legal guardian of an enrolled student-athlete;
  • You have purchased or received tickets to a Kansas State athletics event.
It is important to note: Once deemed an athletic representative ('booster'), he or she retains that title indefinitely.
NOT SURE? ASK! 

If you have any question concerning what is and is not acceptable per NCAA and Big 12 rules, we encourage you to please call the Compliance Office at (785) 532-3990. No question is too insignificant to ask.

 CONTACT US

K-State Compliance Office
Vanier Football Complex, Suite 248
Manhattan, KS 66502
Phone: 785-532-3990
@kstatecomply

Chris Nasuti, Senior Associate AD for Compliance
Alli Purvis, Assistant AD for Compliance
Shae Ridder, Director of Compliance
Cole LaLiberty, Assistant Director of Compliance
Jacob Ratti, Compliance Post Grad Intern
Vera White, Administrative Assistant