Indiana man middle of playing probes involving Alabama, Cincinnati baseball, AP sources say

An Indiana man whose son is a member of the College of Cincinnati baseball crew 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 accustomed to the inquiries instructed 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 cellular phone was not accepting calls Friday.

No particulars have 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 recreation prompted Ohio’s high playing regulator to bar licensed sportsbooks within the state from accepting bets on the Tide’s video games. Pennsylvania and New Jersey adopted swimsuit.

ESPN reported later that surveillance video from the sportsbook situated on the Cincinnati Reds’ Nice American Ballpark indicated the one that 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 accustomed to the investigations instructed the AP on Friday that Neff was the one that positioned these bets.

Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne has since mentioned the college had acquired no proof that any gamers have 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 event this week and is positioned to achieve the NCAA Event.

Earlier this week, Cincinnati introduced assistant coach Kyle Sprague and director of operations Andy Nagel have been relieved of their duties Could 17, a few week after the varsity opened an investigation into doable NCAA violations.

The varsity 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.

However one of many individuals accustomed to the state of affairs instructed AP that contact with Neff was what led to the firings. It’s not recognized if Neff was wagering on Cincinnati baseball video games.

A 3rd particular person accustomed to the Cincinnati investigation instructed AP there was been no indication video games have been being fastened or that Sprague or Nagel have 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 have been eradicated from the American Athletic Convention Event.

One of many individuals accustomed to the state of affairs mentioned Bert Neff has been a youth coach in Indiana with connections to school coaches by means of recruiting.

He’s additionally performed faculty baseball at Indiana and Louisville.

Sports activities Illustrated was first to report Neff’s involvement with each the Alabama and Cincinnati baseball firings.

The Cincinnati case is the newest playing associated scandal in faculty sports activities this month.

Lower than per week after Bohannon was fired, the College of Iowa mentioned 26 of its athletes throughout 5 sports activities have 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 newbie, collegiate {and professional} sports activities through which the NCAA conducts a championship. The foundations are below scrutiny as legalized playing spreads throughout the nation, and the NCAA this week mentioned it was planning an athletes-only survey on the subject.

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AP faculty sports activities: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25