Coach Travis Steele: Tampering Won’t Derail Miami RedHawks This Season
Miami (OH) head coach Travis Steele has guided his team to a historic regular season. The RedHawks went 31–0 before suffering a loss in the MAC Tournament last week.
Undefeated run and NCAA placement
Miami (OH) finished the regular season without a defeat. The first setback arrived in Cleveland against UMass during the MAC Tournament.
The team earned an NCAA Tournament spot. They will face SMU in the First Four on Wednesday night. The game site is roughly an hour from Miami (OH)’s campus.
Maintaining focus amid outside interest
Steele says outside offers and recruiting overtures increased in January. Agents, evaluators and others began contacting players and staff.
He told Dan Dakich that he expected the team to be included in the field. Steele emphasized the importance of staying together and controlling their own destiny.
Pact to delay decisions until offseason
To protect the season, Steele asked his players to postpone transfer and recruitment moves. The group agreed to address those matters after the season.
That agreement was intended to keep attention on on-court goals. The coach credited the players for honoring that commitment.
Tampering tactics and industry pressure
Steele warned that tampering is widespread in modern college basketball. He described indirect approaches by third parties, including AAU coaches and mentors.
According to Steele, agents sometimes use intermediaries to offer incentives for players to enter the transfer portal. He called that practice disruptive.
Personal business management and outside calls
Steele does not use a professional agent. His wife handles his business affairs for him.
He and his family have received calls from athletic directors and other programs. Steele criticized early, speculative recruiting by some schools.
Looking ahead
Steele insisted that tampering will not derail the Miami RedHawks this season. The team aims to take full advantage of the NCAA Tournament opportunity.
How the run concludes remains uncertain. The RedHawks and their coach will let results tell the final story.
