NCAA gives Raiders' Antonio Pierce eight-year show-cause stemming from Arizona State recruiting violations

The NCAA revealed its penalties for Pierce stemming from his role in violations that took place during the COVID-19 dead period

Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce has received an eight-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA for his role in recruiting violations that took place at Arizona State during his time as an assistant there from 2018 to 2021. The NCAA announced the penalties Thursday, saying Pierce and former ASU staffer Anthony Garnett were part of "a program wide effort to engage in impermissible recruiting activities during the COVID-19 dead period."

The case had already resulted in a five-year show-cause for former Arizona State coach Herm Edwards and penalties such as probation and scholarship reductions for the Sun Devils. However, since Pierce was not part of the school's negotiated resolution with the NCAA, his role in the case was adjudicated separately.

Numerous other former Arizona State assistants had already received show-cause penalties for their roles in the program's misconduct. The school also self-imposed a postseason ban in 2023 and vacated nine of 10 wins between 2021-22 for using one or more ineligible players.

In Thursday's announcement, the NCAA highlighted a "scheme" in which Pierce and other ASU staffers arranged unofficial visits for "roughly one year" during the COVID-19 dead period. The visits included impermissible contact between staffers and 35 prospects, plus their families, according to the NCAA.

Pierce is alleged to have provided meals, clothing, lodging, travel and entertainment for 27 prospects, according to the NCAA's findings. Among the other revelations from the NCAA's investigation is that Pierce took a prospect's parents to a "gentlemen's club" as part of entertainment that was provided during the impermissible recruiting visits.

Pierce, a former Arizona linebacker, was a valued ASU assistant from 2018-21. He was elevated to defensive coordinator in 2020 and resigned prior to the 2022 season. The alleged violations came to light in 2021 when a dossier of information was sent to Arizona State and NCAA compliance. Pierce was among five assistants who resigned or were fired after the allegations surfaced. Other Arizona State assistants reportedly cooperated with the NCAA hoping to mitigate penalties.

But the NCAA's vengeance may ring hollow to Pierce, who found safe harbor in the NFL as the Raiders' linebackers coach in 2022. The former Long Beach Poly coach was then elevated to interim head coach after Josh McDaniels was fired midway through last season. The Raiders went 5-4 to close the season under his direction, which was good enough to earn the 45-year-old former veteran NFL linebacker the full-time head coaching job.