NCAA Sanctions Sam Hancock for Betting Violations
The NCAA dropped a two-year “show-cause” order on Sam Hancock, former Baylor University director of resource development, effective April 10, 2025, to April 9, 2027, for breaking its betting rules.
A Heavy Penalty for Missteps
The sanctions stem from nearly 3,000 illegal wagers Hancock placed over five years. Any school hiring him during this period must enforce strict conditions, including mandatory gambling counseling at his own expense and attendance at NCAA Regional Rules Seminars, also on his dime.
Hancock’s violations cut deep. The NCAA found he breached Bylaw 10.3, which bars athletic department staff, student-athletes, and non-athletic employees with sports duties from sports betting.
He also flouted Bylaw 10.01.1, demanding honesty and fair play from anyone tied to college sports. With 113 of his bets targeting Baylor teams and athletes, the NCAA flagged a “significant conflict of interest,” undermining the integrity of the game.
The Scope of the Violations
From July 2019 to September 2024, Hancock placed 2,950 bets totaling $45,979 through three online platforms. Over 100 wagers, 113 to be exact, hit Baylor’s own squads, a move the NCAA deemed reckless for someone in his role.
Despite formal training on NCAA rules, Hancock admitted he knew his actions were wrong but kept betting, a habit that started before Baylor and rolled on after his hiring. The sheer volume stunned regulators, given the clear ban on such activity.
As a development director, Hancock’s job touched athletics, tying him to Bylaw 10.3’s strict no-betting rule. The NCAA’s report didn’t mince words: his choices clashed with fair play, risking trust in Baylor’s programs.
With college sports under scrutiny, the NCAA is aiming to keep staff conduct squeaky clean to protect the game’s reputation.
The “show-cause” order puts Hancock on a tight leash. Any NCAA school eyeing him for a job must make him attend gambling counseling, footing the bill himself.
He’s also got to hit up the NCAA’s rules seminars, again out of pocket, to drill in compliance. For his first year on the job, he’ll sit out two weeks, banned from all athletic activities, no practices, no calls, no chats with coaches or players.
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