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University of Maine President Peter S. Hoff admonished three university officials for the way they handled a situation involving Stephen Cooper, a senior member of the Black Bears’ football team who was found in possession of steroids on Nov. 1.
Hoff released a lengthyt statement Monday, Jan. 21, summarizing the events surrounding Cooper’s case and outlining actions the president plans to take as a response. Hoff determined that Black Bear head football coach Jack Cosgrove, interim athletics director Paul Bubb and Vice President for Student Affairs Richard Chapman failed to follow policies of the Student-Athlete Code of Conduct.
“They showed poor judgment by allowing a team member who had admitted to possessing a performance-enhancing substance to participate in game competition until receiving objective verification, through testing, that Mr. Cooper had not used the substance that he had in his possession on Nov. 1,” Hoff said.
Cooper was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by police for speeding on Interstate 95 Nov. 1. As part of the stop, Maine State Trooper Michael Johnson asked permission to search a duffel bag in the car that belonged to Cooper. The bag contained about 1,000 pills that Cooper identified as steroids. The senior was summonsed for possession of a schedule Y drug, which is a misdemeanor offense in Maine.
Shortly after Nov. 1, Cooper notified a member of his coaching staff of the incident. Subsequently, Cosgrove, Bubb and Chapman were notified. While possession of steroids is not a violation of NCAA regulations, it does violate the university’s athletic code of conduct; However, the three university officials did not press forward with an investigation and Cooper finished his season on the field.
“Their failure to follow proper procedure exposed the university and its athletics programs to the potential of serious harm,” Hoff said.
Following Cooper’s admission of possession, he told university officials he had not used the substance but was planning to when the season ended to prepare for a possible National Football League tryout. From there the investigation ceased until the season ended and the information was then made public.
“I think it’s fair to say they did investigate, but they didn’t really follow the letter of the law,” Hoff said.
Cooper pleaded guilty to possession of steroids Dec. 19 at U.S. District Court in Bangor. He is no longer enrolled at the university and is awaiting sentencing.
While Hoff said he doesn’t want to give the impression that he is merely slapping his own officials on the wrist, the president placed the blame squarely on his own shoulders.
“I should not have assumed, without confirming, that the matter was being handled properly and that all of the necessary steps and communications were taking place,” Hoff said. “I assume ultimate responsibility for the unacceptable handling of the Cooper situation.”
Hoff stood behind both Bubb and Cosgrove, whose respective futures as athletic staff members is uncertain. Cosgrove’s contract is up in June and Bubb, who still carries an interim label, is applying for the athletics director position on a permanent basis.
“I think very highly of both of these gentlemen,” Hoff said. “The fact that some mistakes were made doesn’t change my overall opinion of their ability to do their jobs.”
Cosgrove was unavailable for comment and Bubb only had a brief response.
“I believe it was well within the rights of the president to conduct a review and I’m glad that this is finished,” Bubb said.
As responsive action, Hoff has made administrative changes to assure more comprehensive review of future matters. The athletic director will now report directly to the president, rather than the vice president of Student Affairs. In addition, Hoff is placing the athletic compliance director under the direct oversight of the president.
“Getting that direct reporting relationship between me and the athletic director and making sure the compliance officer is well-charged and in a position to carry out his responsibilities are the most important things to me right now,” Hoff said.
Bangor Daily News