Antonio Pierce hit with big NCAA punishment

Aug 26, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders linebackers coach Antonio Pierce watches from the sidelines against the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders defeated the Patriots 23-6. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Antonio Pierce is currently focused on coaching the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL, but the coach will have to serve a lengthy suspension if he ever decides to return to the collegiate level.

The NCAA on Thursday announced an eight-year show-cause penalty for Pierce stemming from recruiting violations he committed while he was an assistant coach at Arizona State. Pierce would also have to serve a one-year suspension if he were hired by an NCAA team in the future.

Before he left to join the Raiders’ staff in 2022, Pierce was an assistant under Herm Edwards at Arizona State. The former NFL linebacker held the title of recruiting director with the Sun Devils from 2018-2021. Pierce was also an associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Arizona State.

In 2021, a package of documents that was sent to the NCAA accused Arizona State of committing numerous recruiting violations . Many of the violations came during the COVID-19 recruiting dead period. Pierce, who was the alleged ringleader of a staff that repeatedly violated NCAA rules, was accused of orchestrating a scheme where recruits and their families visited Arizona State over a four-month period when the visits were not permissible.

Arizona State reached a settlement in April with the NCAA that resulted in a four-year probationary period as well as an undisclosed fine, vacated games, reduced scholarships and recruiting restrictions. Pierce was not part of that settlement.

Pierce probably is not all that concerned with NCAA sanctions now that he is a head coach in the NFL. The same can be said for another NFL coach who was recently hit with a major NCAA punishment .

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