Former Northern Colorado head coach Kevin Smallcomb was investigated by the Greeley (CO) Police following allegations of financial improprieties from the school back in August. Smallcomb refused to speak with the authorities and charges were never brought in the case.
The report from The Greeley Tribune stated the following about the investigation:
The police investigation stemmed from a more than two-month internal investigation by the university headed up by Walt Francis, a special assistant to UNC athletic director Jay Hinrichs. In that investigation, UNC alleged that Smallcomb was unlawfully using per diem travel funds meant for the players totaling $1,558. The $1,558 was the difference between what was recorded on per diem meal signature sheets and travel authorization expense sheets as compared to what student athletes and coaches said they received for five different road trips.
The allegation stemmed from a meeting Francis had with 12 players on the team, all three assistant coaches and team trainers April 5 after university officials received an anonymous tip claiming Smallcomb was withholding per diem money from the players.
Seven of the 12 players interviewed by Francis at the meeting claimed Smallcomb would give them a portion of the money they were supposed to receive for meals as they departed for trips, but not the entire amount. Players are to receive $25 per day for three meals or $6 for lunch and breakfast and $13 for dinner if only two meals are used.
Interesting enough, Northern Colorado didn’t renew Smallcomb’s contract at the end of the 2010 season even though he was coming off the first winning season since 2004 as the school finished in second place in the new Great West Conference with an overall record of 34-24 and a 22-6 conference mark. He had a career record of 194-235 in his eight seasons in charge of the Bears.
