Former Baylor Basketball Coach Jared Nuness Receives NCAA Show Cause

Baylor’s basketball program was in the news again last week, but not for good reasons. Jared Nuness had been with the program for over a decade as an assistant to Scott Drew. He was their longest tenured assistant.

In December, during a poor season on the court, Baylor’s coaching staff underwent a shift as Nuness announced he was resigning.

“After sixteen years at Baylor, I have decided to step away from my role on the coaching staff to attend to a personal issue. This wasn't a decision I made lightly, but if I can't give 100% to the team, it's time to make a change,” Nuness said in a social media release.

"I am incredibly grateful to Coach Drew, the athletic department, the players, and the Baylor community for the support and relationships built over the years. Being part of this program has been one of the great honors of my career. At this time, Whitney and I decided I need to focus on my physical health. I leave with deep appreciation for Baylor and the young men I've had the privilege to coach.”

NCAA penalty

As Nuness was focusing on his health, the NCAA was focusing on impermissible bets that Nuness was alleged to have been making.

Last week, Nuness was hit with sanctions after participating in what they called impermissible sports betting.

According to the NCAA, “Case centered on Jared Nuness impermissible sports betting activities, which occurred while he was employed as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Baylor University (Baylor). Specifically, from December 29, 2020, through November 28, 2025, Nuness placed approximately 3,400 bets totaling $38,000 on professional competitions.

"According to Nuness, he also permitted his son to use his accounts and his son place three bets on collegiate competitions totaling $170. None of the bets involved Baylor's programs. Nuness accepted responsibility for all bets placed on his account and agreed that his sports betting violation is Level II."

As noted in the statement above, Nuness accepted responsibility for all of the wagers that were placed. He was given a two-year show cause as a result.

What It Means

There are not a lot of laws that stick in the NCAA these days, but sports betting certainly is one of them. There are some hypocrisies by the NCAA, and other leagues that do not condone betting by their personnel for obvious reasons. In the next breath they are more than happy to take the sponsorship dollars that often come with sportsbooks to advertise within their stadiums, and all around sports.

Nuness is not the first person to be hit with punishments for impermissible betting. He is unlikely to be the last as well.

That is the world we live in in the current landscape of sports and society.

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