Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce was handed an eight-year show-cause penalty by the NCAA on Thursday over infractions stemming from his time as an assistant coach at Arizona State.

He’s not the first coach at the NFL level to face a show-cause; Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh was also recently hit with a four-year show-cause for violations at Michigan.

Still, the nature of the violations Antonio Pierce was penalized for was concerning.

Pierce was the associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at the time of the alleged violations. During his stint the NCAA said Pierce violated the principles of ethical conduct for impermissible recruiting activities during the COVID-19 dead period.

Among the alleged violations was a trip to a gentleman’s club with a prospect’s parents.

According to the NCAA, Antonio Pierce and other staff members linked up with a booster to arrange unofficial visits during the dead period caused by COVID-19.

Among the activities that occurred during those visits were tryouts, football facility tours, and entertainment for 35 prospects and their families. Free meals, apparel, airfare, and/or lodging for 27 prospects were also provided, often in collaboration with the booster, who the NCAA says was the parent of a then-football student-athlete in the program.

On top of these activities occurring during a dead period, the meals, travel expenses, and entertainment are all considered impermissible recruiting inducements. The entertainment itself included taking a prospect’s parents to a gentleman’s club.

Antonio Pierce resigned from his post at Arizona State amid the NCAA investigation, ahead of the 2022 season.

He was then hired by the Las Vegas Raiders as a linebackers coach under Josh McDaniels. McDaniels was fired at the end of October 2023, and Pierce was elevated to interim head coach.

Antonio Pierce was then named the full-time coach for the Raiders on Jan. 19, 2024.

On3’s Dan Morrison also contributed to this report.

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