Frank Cruz, USC baseball coach, fired for NCAA violations
Trojans athletic director Pat Haden announced Wednesday that Cruz has been dismissed and that the school has self-imposed a reduction in the number of practice hours for the baseball team this season and next.
LOS ANGELES
Southern California has聽fired聽baseball聽coach聽Frank Cruz for violating NCAA rules regarding limits on practice time and organized team activities.
Trojans athletic director Pat Haden announced Wednesday that Cruz has been dismissed and that the school has self-imposed a reduction in the number of practice hours for the baseball team this season and next.
"Adhering to all NCAA rules is paramount for each one of our聽coaches, student-athletes and staff members," Haden said. "Those who knowingly break NCAA rules are subject to termination."
USC聽has alerted the NCAA and Pac-12 of the infraction and the university-imposed actions.
Cruz was 48-63 in two seasons with the Trojans.
Associate head聽coach聽Dan Hubbs, a former Trojans pitcher in his second season as a聽coach聽with聽USC, has been promoted to head聽coach.
"I'm confident that Dan Hubbs and his staff will lead our team to a successful season," Haden said. "Dan is a good聽coach, he is highly-regarded in the baseball community and he has strong Trojan roots."
Last Thursday),聽USC聽announced it had suspended Cruz from all聽coaching聽duties pending an investigation by Vice President for Athletic Compliance Dave Roberts and his staff to determine whether the baseball program exceeded the allowed Countable Athletically-Related Activities hours.