Washington Huskies defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator Tosh Lupoi is being investigated for providing improper benefits to a recruit, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
Washington Huskies assistant coach Tosh Lupoi under investigation for improper benefits
The defensive line coach, who was possibly set to join Steve Sarkisian at USC, had his hire blocked by the Trojans when allegations surfaced.
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
USC and Washington are investigating whether a football coach who worked under Steve Sarkisian at Washington violated NCAA rules by paying for private tutoring and online classes for a recruit.
The allegations surround the recruitment of Andrew Basham, a former defensive lineman at Lynnwood High in Washington, who signed a letter of intent with the Huskies last February but did not qualify academically to enroll.
Mike Davis, a throwing coach who helped Basham win a state shotput title, told The Times that Tosh Lupoi, Washington’s defensive line coach, gave him $3,000 to cover private tutoring for Basham through a test preparation company. Davis said he also received $1,500 from Lupoi to reimburse Basham’s father for online classes Andrew could use to raise his grade-point average.
The allegations arose as USC was vetting Lupoi for a potential place on the Trojans’ coaching staff. Lupoi’s potential hire has been blocked by USC. There has been no formal response yet from Washington.
Lupoi, who had spent the last two seasons on Steve Sarkisian's staff at Washington, was publicly weighing whether to stay with the Huskies or join Sarkisian at USC. Lupoi had reportedly been steering Washington recruits toward Southern Cal in recent weeks, something he reportedly did while leaving Cal for Washington two years prior.
Lupoi denied the allegations by text message to the Times. Sarkisian denied knowledge of any wrongdoing by Lupoi, and USC compliance officers told reporters they “don’t have concerns about Steve’s involvement.”
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