CINCINNATI — An Indiana man whose son is a member of the College of Cincinnati baseball staff is the bettor on the middle of separate investigations that led to firings of Alabama coach Brad Bohannon and two members of Bearcats baseball employees this month, two individuals conversant in the inquiries informed The Related Press on Friday.
The individuals who recognized Bert Neff of Mooresville, Indiana, as being related to each the Alabama and Cincinnati instances spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of neither was approved to discuss ongoing investigations.
A quantity listed as Neff’s cellphone was not accepting calls Friday.
No particulars had been disclosed by Alabama on why Bohannon was let go after 5 years on the job. Nonetheless, the firing got here three days after a report warning of suspicious wagers on an LSU-Alabama baseball sport prompted Ohio’s prime playing regulator to bar licensed sportsbooks within the state from accepting bets on the Tide’s video games. Pennsylvania and New Jersey adopted swimsuit.
RELATED | Alabama baseball coach fired after suspicious betting at Nice American Ball Park
ESPN reported later that surveillance video from the sportsbook positioned on the Cincinnati Reds’ Nice American Ballpark indicated the one who positioned the bets was speaking with Bohannon on the time. ESPN cited a number of nameless sources with direct details about the investigation.
One of many individuals conversant in the investigations informed the AP on Friday that Neff was the one who positioned these bets.
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne has since mentioned the college had obtained no proof that any gamers had been concerned within the state of affairs. A textual content message to Byrne from the AP on Friday was not instantly returned.
Alabama is competing within the Southeastern Convention baseball match this week and is positioned to succeed in the NCAA Match.
Earlier this week, Cincinnati introduced assistant coach Kyle Sprague and director of operations Andy Nagel had been relieved of their duties Might 17, a couple of week after the college opened an investigation into attainable NCAA violations.
The college didn’t present particulars of what was being investigated and mentioned it might not remark additional. Voice and textual content messages to Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham weren’t instantly returned.
RELATED | UC assistant baseball coach, director of operations fired after inside evaluation findings
However one of many individuals conversant in the state of affairs informed AP that contact with Neff was what led to the firings. It’s not identified if Neff was wagering on Cincinnati baseball video games.
A 3rd individual conversant in the Cincinnati investigation informed AP there was been no indication video games had been being fastened or that Sprague or Nagel had been betting on video games.
Neff’s son, Andrew, is listed as a pitcher on Cincinnati’s roster, however has not performed this season. The Bearcats season ended earlier this week after they had been eradicated from the American Athletic Convention Match.
One of many individuals conversant in the state of affairs mentioned Bert Neff has been a youth coach in Indiana with connections to school coaches by means of recruiting.
Sports activities Illustrated was first to report Neff’s involvement with each the Alabama and Cincinnati baseball firings.
The Cincinnati case is the most recent gambling-related scandal in faculty sports activities this month.
Lower than every week after Bohannon was fired, the College of Iowa mentioned 26 of its athletes throughout 5 sports activities had been suspected of wagering on sports activities in violation of NCAA guidelines. Its cross-state rival, Iowa State, acknowledged that some 15 of its athletes throughout three sports activities are also suspected of violating playing guidelines.
NCAA guidelines prohibit athletes, coaches and employees from betting on beginner, collegiate {and professional} sports activities through which the NCAA conducts a championship. The foundations are beneath scrutiny as legalized playing spreads throughout the nation, and the NCAA this week mentioned it was planning an athletes-only survey on the subject.