Smith Cochran
Sports Editor
Former Sewanee Women’s Basketball Brody Curry (C ’17) was found in violation of NCAA sports betting rules on an NCAA report released February 13. During his tenure at Sewanee, Curry placed more than $93,000 worth of wagers on collegiate and professional sports competitions, an infraction to NCAA rules and regulations for college coaches. These bets were placed during a 2 year period. 20 bets totaling $28,000 were placed on collegiate women’s basketball that did not involve Sewanee.
The wagering began when Curry was an assistant coach and continued as he became the head coach of the Women’s Basketball team, according to news releases issued by the University and the NCAA. During the NCAA investigation, Curry admitted he was aware that betting on college sports was illegal for any college coach, but he did so anyway. The NCAA inquiry concluded that Curry did not bet on Sewanee’s women’s basketball games.
Curry’s online bets came to light in March 2003 after the Tennessee Sports Wagering Advisory Council informed Sewanee Athletics that one of its coaches was placing wagers on collegiate games in violation of NCAA rules. A sports wagering platform where the coach placed bets also alerted the NCAA compliance and enforcement staff. Sewanee reported the issue to NCAA officials and placed Curry on administrative leave. In July, with Sewanee’s internal investigation still underway, Curry later accepted his letter of resignation in July during the ongoing internal investigation.
The national sports governing body found that Curry’s wagers didn’t appear to influence any intercollegiate competition.
John Shackelford, Sewanee’s director of athletics, expressed thanks to the NCAA’s investigative staff for their collaboration and support. “Sewanee athletics pursues excellence in all that we do, and it is my goal to sustain a high level of expectations for our staff and student athletes through the way we compete, represent our great University, and promote a culture of NCAA compliance on our campus,” he said.
Vice Chancellor Rob Pearigen noted that the University responded immediately once notified about the coach’s betting. “The University of the South has taken these violations seriously, as shown by our quick response upon learning of our former coach’s violations and our voluntary imposition of substantial penalties,” he said. “We are committed to maintaining a culture of NCAA compliance on our campus, and we will continue our efforts to educate and provide resources to our staff and our student athletes.”
After the investigation was completed, Sewanee Athletics agreed to a year of probation. The penalty requires that all prospective women’s basketball players be informed of the penalty before they enroll. Sewanee athletics also volunteered to pay a $1,500 fine and present educational programs on NCAA betting rules for administrators, coaches, staff, and student-athletes. Sewanee has also placed anti-wagering posters around the Fowler Center and athletic offices as part of the “Don’t Bet on it” campaign to raise awareness of the “implications associated with gambling,” according to the NCAA Public Infractions Decision Report.
This is the first set of sports wagering infractions that involves a Division III institution. Tennessee legalized sports betting in June 2019 and betting apps went live in November 2023. The NCAA report against Sewanee noted that betting has “become normalized in society,” and as a result, it is “arguably more important” for coaches to refrain from such activities to set a positive example for their student-athletes.
Curry was a four-year varsity letter winner on the Sewanee Men’s basketball team from 2014-17 and was a two time all conference selection for the Tigers. After spending two years at Lee University as a graduate assistant for the Men’s Basketball team, he returned to Sewanee. He is currently the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee.
The Purple did not reach him for comment.