Report: Antonio Pierce called 'mastermind' behind Arizona State NCAA infractions

As Arizona State is undergoing an NCAA investigation for recruiting violations, defensive and recruiting coordinator Antonio Pierce is still with the team. The Athletic’s Doug Haller reported on Pierce’s first media availability since the investigation began that Pierce provided no comment on the ongoing NCAA probe.

Antonio Pierce and the NCAA investigation

Tim Verghese of On3 Sports detailed the news of two Arizona State assistant coaches who had been placed on administrative leave on Aug. 9 while under investigation. Defensive backs coach Chris Hawkins and wide receivers coach Prentice Gill joined the Arizona State tight ends coach Adam Brenemen on leave.

With three assistant coaches under investigation for recruiting violations, questions have been asked about why the head of recruiting was also not placed on leave. Antonio Pierce has remained with the team since the investigation began. Pierce told reporters on Wednesday that he is not worried about his own status entering the season.

When asked if he felt any responsibility for the actions of the coaches accused of recruiting violations under his watch, Pierce simply responded “I have no comment on that,” via Doug Haller.

Haller continued his report with information regarding Pierce’s involvement in the allegations, citing that Pierce has been named directly.

“Several sources have told The Athletic that the recruiting issues started with Pierce. ‘He’s the mastermind, for sure,’ one said.”

Arizona State football allegations

According to multiple reports, an anonymous person sent a dossier of dozens of pages to the Arizona State athletic department. Within this dossier were receipts, pictures, screenshots and emails related to multiple potential recruiting violations committed by the Sun Devils staff.

Among the allegations, Arizona State allegedly hosted recruits during the NCAA-mandated recruiting dead period in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that started in the spring of 2020 and last until June 1, 2021.

In Pete Thamel’s report of the allegations he cited multiple sources stating:

“At least 30 players visited campus over a span of months,” Thamel stated. “A practice so common coaches referenced ‘official visit weekends’ in staff meetings, coaches bumped into recruits and families in a back stairwell and a routine developed of facility tours being given around 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. at night.”

Also among the allegations are claims members of the Arizona State coaching staff assisted in arranging trips for recruits to visit campus in Tempe. In the dossier are emails from Regina Jackson, the mother of ASU quarterback Jayden Daniels, allegedly assisting with booking more than $1,100 in flights for recruits and their families on a trip from Florida. Hawkins, Gill and Breneman are alleged to be involved.

“In the dossier is an email forwarding a ticket for the guardian of one of the recruits.” Thamel stated. “The email is from Jackson to an email address for Chris Hawkins, the ASU defensive backs coach. Hawkins then forwarded the ticket to the guardian. There are receipts explicitly listing the names of two recruits on their tickets with their flight locator numbers, and both are purchased by the credit card that the documents tie to Jackson.”