UNC names three who provided benefits

Athletic director Dick Baddour identified three individuals who provided benefits to players in records submitted to the NCAA detailing violations.

The three people – Chris Hawkins, Todd Stewart and Michael Katz – all have ties to sports agents or are considered agents by the NCAA.

The records, heavily redacted to keep the student-athletes’ identities secret, were provided to The Daily Tar Heel and other news organizations after several weeks of requests. UNC previously said it would not release the names of the agents.

Marvin Austin, Kendric Burney, Greg Little, Robert Quinn and Deunta Williams all received benefits from people classified as agents or financial advisers, UNC officials have said previously.

Because the names of student-athletes referenced in the newly provided records are redacted, it’s not clear which players are the ones referenced in the letters.

Austin was dismissed from the team and the University did not ask the NCAA for his reinstatement. Burney and Williams had to sit out six and four games, respectively, and repay some of the benefits they received. Little and Quinn were declared permanently ineligible by the NCAA.

During the course of the investigation, UNC learned that Chris Hawkins, a former UNC football player from 2001-03, had provided benefits, set up meetings between current players and financial advisers and agents, offered to purchase gear from players and told agents that he represented some UNC players, records show.

In an Oct. 4 letter from Dick Baddour, Hawkins was banned from UNC’s athletic facilities and instructed to have no contact with current or potential student-athletes for a minimum of five years.

Hawkins is mentioned in three of the five letters from UNC reporting the violations to the NCAA.

One of the players attended four dinners with financial advisers at local restaurants that were paid for by the advisers. The player said he did not know he was not allowed to receive benefits from financial advisers. The same player also was given a wristband to attend a pool party from Katz.

Katz works for Rosenhaus Sports, a well-known sports agency. Drew Rosenhaus represents a number of well-known NFL players

Another player had hotel rooms booked and paid for by Stewart. This player also received a wristband from Katz for a pool party.

Stewart has ties with a financial advising firm and qualifies as an agent, the documents say.