University of Nevada, Reno leaders said they had discussions with new men's basketball coach Steve Alford about his handling of a 2002 sexual assault case involving one of his players at the University of Iowa.
In 2002, Iowa guard Pierre Pierce was accused of raping a female Iowa athlete.
At the time, Alford was serving as the head coach and adamantly defended his player: "I totally believe he's innocent."
Pierce was later charged with third-degree sexual assault and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. He was suspended and redshirted.
In 2005, Pierce was charged in another case with threatening an ex-girlfriend with a knife and choking her.