Alabama associate athletic director Kobie Baker, who previously worked for the NCAA, resigned Wednesday after the school questioned him about being linked to the ongoing FBI college basketball investigation that has resulted in 10 arrests.
Baker oversaw all areas of Alabama's basketball administration and served as the liaison for men's basketball to the SEC office, compliance services and student-athlete support services.
"Following yesterday's reports from New York regarding a Federal investigation of intercollegiate athletics, The University of Alabama Department of Athletics immediately initiated an internal review of our men's basketball operations," Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said in a statement. "As a result, we have accepted the resignation effective today of Kobie Baker, a men's basketball administrator. Our review has not identified any NCAA or SEC rules violations nor the involvement of any other coach or staff member. We have notified both of the governing bodies of the actions we have taken. As always, we will continue to be proactive in our compliance efforts."
According to the Tuscaloosa News, Alabama believed that Baker was involved in a meeting with Auburn assistant coach Chuck Person and Rashan Michel -- two of the 10 charged in a federal corruption investigation Tuesday. According to the charges, Michel, a former NBA official who founded Thompson Bespoke Clothing, which is a custom clothier for athletes, was allegedly given $10,000 by a "staff member" who helped steer a recruit in the Atlanta area. The Tuscaloosa News learned that Alabama believes Baker was the "staff member" identified in the federal charges.
Prior to joining Avery Johnson's staff when he took the Alabama job, Baker was the assistant director of enforcement for basketball development at the NCAA. He was also the associate director of amateurism certification at the NCAA.