U-M/NCAA Men’s Basketball Investigation Chronology

Feb.17, 1996

Rollover accident on M-14 involving U-M player Maurice Taylor’s Ford Explorer. Teammates Robert Traylor, Louis Bullock, Willie Mitchell, Ron Oliver and recruit Mateen Cleaves all in vehicle during accident. Traylor suffered broken arm.

Feb. 21, 1996

U-M officials complete their investigation into the auto accident. Find one NCAA violation of entertaining a recruit farther than 30 miles from campus.

Mar. 10, 1997

Michigan and the Big Ten Conference release a joint inquiry report to the NCAA. U-M admits to two minor violations involving a booster, Ed Martin. The report praises U-M basketball head coach Steve Fisher for thwarting possible major violations, but admonishes the coach for not reporting the problems to athletic director Joe Roberson.  

Mar. 15, 1996

University receives inquiry letter from NCAA.

Winter 1996

U-M conducts internal investigation.

May 5, 1996

Report of joint investigation into auto accident by the Big Ten and U-M submitted to NCAA.

June 27, 1996

Report of investigation into boosters by the Big Ten and U-M submitted to NCAA.

August 1996

NCAA asks additional questions.

Sept. 4-5, 1996

NCAA investigates on campus.

Mar. 3, 1997

Booster Ed Martin is banned from U-M athletics programs.

Mar. 4, 1997

Report of investigation by U-M and Big Ten into allegations by booster Ed Martin submitted to NCAA.

Mar. 7, 1997

Detroit News begins a series of investigative reports into Ed Martin/Ford Plant illegal lottery.

Mar. 17, 1997

U-M hires Bond, Schoenke and King, a law firm that specializes in NCAA investigations, to conduct an internal probe.

Mar. 27, 1997

Michigan finishes 1996-97 season 24-11 overall, 9-9 in the Big Ten.

1997 NIT Champions.

Home game average attendance: 12,005

May 29, 1997

Brian Ellerbe hired as an assistant coach.

Sept. 8, 1997

• Tom Goss appointed Athletic Director to replacing retired AD Joe Roberson.
• Corrective actions put in place by U-M Compliance Director Derrick Gragg.

Oct. 9, 1997

• University announces findings from Bond, Schoeneck & King investigation
• U-M submits report to NCAA.
• Michigan President Lee Bollinger and Athletic Director Tom Goss comment on the findings

Oct. 13, 1997

Tom Goss announces that Steve Fisher dismissed as head basketball coach.

Oct. 25, 1997

Brian Ellerbe appointed interim head basketball coach

Dec.10, 1997

U-M receives NCAA response to 10-9-97 self-report

Dec.17, 1997

Tom Goss responds to 12-10-97 letter from NCAA and publicly reports U-M corrective actions taken

Mar. 15, 1998

Michigan finishes 1997-98 season 25-9 overall, 11-5 in the Big Ten.

Champions of inaugural Big Ten Tournament.

Season ends with second round loss at NCAA Tournament.

Home game average attendance: 12,353

Mar. 20, 1998

Brian Ellerbe named head basketball coach.

Aug. 14, 1998

Brian Ellerbe signs multi-year contract.

Mar. 5, 1999

Michigan finishes 1998-99 season12-19 overall, 5-11 in the Big Ten.

Season ends with second round loss in the Big Ten Tournament.

Home game average attendance: 11,139

Apr. 28, 1999

FBI executes search warrants into homes of Ed Martin, his son Carlton and others, find items linked to former U-M players.

May 13, 1999

Tom Goss statement regarding Detroit Free Press story about the U-M investigation.

May 18, 1999

Basketball Program Advisory Committee formed.

January 2000

Booster Ed Martin and U.S. District Attorney negotiate a plea bargain.

Feb. 8, 2000

Tom Goss resigns as U-M Athletic Director.

Mar. 3, 2000

Bill Martin asked to become interim athletic director.

Mar. 13, 2000

Bill Martin starts first day as Interim athletic director.

Mar. 15, 2000

Michigan finishes 1999-2000 season 15-14 overall, 6-10 in the Big Ten.

First round loss in Big Ten Tournament.

Season ends with first round NIT loss.

Home game average attendance: 11,769

May 3, 2000

Ed Martin backs out of plea bargain.

May 17, 2000

U-M Compliance director Derrick Gragg leaves for a position at the University of Arkansas.

Mar. 8, 2001

Michigan finishes 2000-01 season 10-18 overall, 4-12 in the Big Ten.

Season ends with first round loss in the Big Ten Tournament

Home game average attendance: 10,447

Mar.13, 2001

Brian Ellerbe asked to step down as head basketball coach.

Mar. 29, 2001

Tommy Amaker named head basketball coach.

Jun. 2, 2001

Ed Martin's son, Carlton, spurns offer for leniency in exchange for information.

Nov. 1, 2001

Judy Van Horn named U-M Compliance Director.

Nov. 12, 2001

Tommy Amaker signs five-year contract.

Jan. 1, 2002

• U-M President Lee Bollinger departs to become President of Columbia University.
• B. Joseph White named interim U-M president.

Mar. 8, 2002

Michigan finishes 2001-02 season 11-18 overall, 5-11 in the Big Ten.

Season ends with second round loss in the Big Ten Tournament.

Home game average attendance: 11,157

Mar. 21/22, 2002

• U.S. District Attorney Jeffrey Collins releases indictment of former booster Ed Martin.
• U-M officials issue statements on the Ed Martin situation.

Mar. 25, 2002

Bill Martin comments to media about Ed Martin situation.

Mar. 28, 2002

Bill Martin writes op-ed for Michigan Daily on Ed Martin situation.

Apr. 3, 2002

Chris Webber's attorney ( Fallasha Erwin) confirms Webber took small gifts but not full amount alleged in the Ed Martin indictment.

Apr. 4, 2002

May 28, 2002

Ed Martin pleads guilty to the third count of the indictment for conspiracy to launder money. As part of his plea agreement, Ed Martin will meet with U-M, NCAA and U.S. District Attorney to discuss financial dealings.

U-M AD Bill Martin comments to the press.

Nov. 7, 2002

May 8, 2003

NCAA Infractions Committee announces sanctions. In addition to U-M's self-imposed sanctions from November 2002, the NCAA imposes the following penalties: (1) Public censure and reprimand; (2) U-M placed on probation for four years (Nov. 7, 2002 to Nov. 6, 2006); (3) No postseason competition for men's basketball program in 2003-04; (4) A reduction of one men's basketball scholarship (from 13 to 12) for four seasons (2004-05 to 2007-08); (5) Dissociation for 10 years from the four athletes identified. U-M plans to appeal the one-year postseason ban.

NCAA Release

Committee Report

U-M Release

Comments by U-M officials: President Mary Sue Coleman, Athletic Director Bill Martin ,

Head Basketball Coach Tommy Amaker and VP and General Counsel Marvin Krislov.

Comments by U-M players.

Sept. 25, 2003

The NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee reverses the imposition of an additional one-year ban on postseason competition against the U-M men's basketball program for 2003-04.

U-M Release and Comments.

Comments from U-M players.

Appeals Committee Report.