Pretty amazing resurrection of Merriweather's career after getting Purdue sanctioned in 2008. In February 2006 Purdue officials found assistant coach Merriweather guilty of helping a team member (Cherelle George) write a research paper in 2005. Purdue officials suspended George and Merriweather was allowed to resign. George was eventually declared permanently ineligible by the NCAA but Merriweather "survived" to coach again.
From the Purdue Exponent (Feb 18, 2008):
"(Purdue's response to the NCAA) says former coach Kristy Curry was aware of one of the violations (and) academic fraud. After two meetings with Merriweather in late 2005 and early 2006 and denials from Merriweather regarding academic fraud, Curry did not pursue it. Curry, who's now the coach at Texas Tech, would have been reprimanded and 'limited for summer recruiting' by (AD Morgan) Burke if she would have stayed at Purdue. Furthermore, it was learned that Curry made two of 49 impermissible contacts with recruits. Merriweather was implicated in the remaining 47 call violations all of which were six minutes or less.
"According to the response, 'It is noted here that had the head coach remained at Purdue University, the assistant coach (Merriweather) would have been terminated.' Merriweather, however, resigned more than a month before that conclusion had been reached."
From the Journal and Courier "The Indianapolis native (Merriweather) received a three-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA, requiring any school hiring Merriweather to appear before the Committee on Infractions. The penalty ended in August, 2010." She was named Wright State women's basketball head coach in April of 2016.
Many people blame Versyp for the decline of Purdue's WBB program and certainly she shares blame. I am happy a change is being made. But IMO the decline really started with this event.
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From the Purdue Exponent (Feb 18, 2008):
"(Purdue's response to the NCAA) says former coach Kristy Curry was aware of one of the violations (and) academic fraud. After two meetings with Merriweather in late 2005 and early 2006 and denials from Merriweather regarding academic fraud, Curry did not pursue it. Curry, who's now the coach at Texas Tech, would have been reprimanded and 'limited for summer recruiting' by (AD Morgan) Burke if she would have stayed at Purdue. Furthermore, it was learned that Curry made two of 49 impermissible contacts with recruits. Merriweather was implicated in the remaining 47 call violations all of which were six minutes or less.
"According to the response, 'It is noted here that had the head coach remained at Purdue University, the assistant coach (Merriweather) would have been terminated.' Merriweather, however, resigned more than a month before that conclusion had been reached."
From the Journal and Courier "The Indianapolis native (Merriweather) received a three-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA, requiring any school hiring Merriweather to appear before the Committee on Infractions. The penalty ended in August, 2010." She was named Wright State women's basketball head coach in April of 2016.
Many people blame Versyp for the decline of Purdue's WBB program and certainly she shares blame. I am happy a change is being made. But IMO the decline really started with this event.
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