Citing "university procedure," Montford would not reveal the names of employees involved. However, he also would not comment on the employment status of assistant athletic director Taylor McNeel and Michele Matticks, assistant director of academic services.
Both have been responsible for a certification program that resulted in the disqualification of two basketball players last weekend. Because the NCAA deemed Gracen Averil and Deuce Jones ineligible, the school forfeited its 10 Big 12 victories and removed itself from NCAA tournament consideration.
McNeel and Matticks were not available at their offices this morning.
"Sadly, these changes are coming too late to ease the pain and broken hearts of our men's basketball team," president Donald Haragan said at a morning news conference. "This should never have happened. Words are not going to erase the memories these young men will retain throughout their careers."
Haragan announced a full restructuring of the academic certification process at Texas Tech which will move from the athletic department to the president's purview.
Associate general counsel Victor Mellinger is now the acting compliance officer, assuming the duties included in the job description of McNeel, a former assistant football coach and 22-year veteran of the athletic department.
In coordination with the NCAA, the school is searching nationally for candidates with experience in academic compliance and certification, Haragan said.
The school already has been under an NCAA investigation for alleged violations in the football and men's basketball programs.
The university will audit the athletic eligibility of all student athletes, beginning with those participating in spring sports. Internal auditor Kimberly Miller and attorney Kathy Jones, a former NCAA official, will conduct the inquiry.
In all, six Tech athletes have either lost playing time or eligibility related to university administrative mistakes in the past year. One of them, former football lineman Casey Jones, successfully sued the NCAA to play the second half of last season after being declared academically deficient.