How Jeremy Pruitt, each Tennessee staff member cheated NCAA — and the show cause received

The NCAA handed out seven show-cause penalties to former Tennessee football coaches and staff members during Jeremy Pruitt's dodgy tenure in Knoxville.

The recruiting malfeasance spread through most of Pruitt's stint at UT from 2018 to early 2021 and resulted in the NCAA handing down its verdict Friday in the scandal that featured more than 200 rule violations by at least a dozen staff members that went unreported. Pruitt, notable, received a six-year show-cause for his role. A show-cause penalty means a university cannot hire a coach or recruiter without being subjected to penalties during the length of the ban, unless given NCAA approval.

Former defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley, director of recruiting Bethany Gunn, and assistant director of recruiting Chantryce Boone also received show-cause orders.

Here is who was punished and why by the NCAA:

Exclusive coverage: Tennessee, Jeremy Pruitt learn NCAA penalties

• 12 text messages that buried Pruitt, staff in NCAA scandal

• Fulmer was either fooled by Pruitt or feigned ignorance, records show

• Tennessee paid Darnell Washington cash. He still went to Georgia

• Vols assistant paid recruits from bank account shared with parents, records show

• Unpacking NCAA's verdict — and why Vols can finally move on

• Fulmer's list of candidates to replace Pruitt included some wild names

• Derrick Ansley pointed finger at Pruitt in NCAA investigation. Here's how

• NCAA doesn't hammer Casey Pruitt — Jeremy Pruitt's wife — for role in scandal

Jeremy Pruitt

Former role at Tennessee: Head coach, 2017-21

Punishment: Six-year show-cause that includes a 100% suspension from the first year of his employment if he employed by an NCAA school in athletics during the six-year show-cause

NCAA findings: Pruitt took the brunt of the punishment and attention for Tennessee's 18 Level I violations as the head coach of a program that orchestrated rampant and blatant rules violations. He was accused of not meeting his responsibility to promote an atmosphere of compliance due to his involvement in violations. He also failed to monitor his staff.

Brian Niedermeyer

Former role at Tennessee: Assistant coach, 2017-21

Punishment: Five-year show-cause.

NCAA findings: Niedermeyer was at the middle of the cash flow for Tennessee. The NCAA found he paid recruits and players from large ATM cash withdrawals and money stashed in his desk drawer. His bank records showed large withdrawls coinciding with prospect visits. He was accused of providing false or misleading information to the school and NCAA enforcement staff. He funded and was involved in impermissible visits during the COVID-19 dead period.

Shelton Felton

Former role at Tennessee: Quality control analyst, 2018; assistant coach, 2020-21

Punishment: Four-year show-cause

NCAA findings: Felton helped fund and was involved in impermissible visits during the COVID-19 dead period. He was accused of providing false or misleading information to the school and NCAA enforcement staff.

Drew Hughes

Former role at Tennessee: Director of player personnel, 2017-21

Punishment: Four-year show-cause.

NCAA findings: Hughes provided and arranged impermissible inducements to multiple prospective student-athletes. The NAA deemed the inducements were intentional, substantial, repetitive and provided to gain a significant recruiting advantage.

Bethany Gunn

Former role at Tennessee: Director of recruiting, 2018-21

Punishment: Five-year show-cause

NCAA findings: Gunn factored into the middle of the NCAA findings as the director of recruiting. She consistently was part of the structure that sought to conceal recruiting visits, scheduling and illicit activities. She was accused of providing false or misleading information to the school and NCAA enforcement staff and influencing a prospect's mother to provide false or misleading information to investigators.

Chantryce Boone

Former role at Tennessee: Assistant director of recruiting, 2020-21

Punishment: 10-year show-cause.

NCAA findings: Boone was part of the recruiting operation to facilitate impermissible unofficial visit activities, inducements and contacts. Her actions included setting up visits and paying for meals and hotel rooms.

Michael Magness

Former role at Tennessee: Student assistant, 2017-20

Punishment: Three-year show-cause.

NCAA findings: Magness existed as a money runner for the staff, paying for meals, hotels, and entertainment during recruit visits. He got money to players who were hosting recruits on visits. He was accused of providing false or misleading information during the investigation. He funded and was involved in impermissible visits during the COVID-19 dead period.

Casey Pruitt and others

Other names that have factored in throughout the process but were not included in the NCAA punishments include Casey Pruitt, Jeremy Pruitt's wife; former director of player personnel Danny Stiff; former director of recruiting Rachel Bell; former assistant director of player personnel J.T. Hill; assistant director of recruiting Taylar Hooker; and offensive analyst/quality control coach Larry Harold.

Stiff, Bell, Hill, Hooker and Harold were fired for cause in January 2021 along with Jeremy Pruitt, Niedermeyer, Felton, Gunn, and Boone.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How Jeremy Pruitt, Tennessee staff cheated NCAA, show cause received