East Tennessee State University Office of the President PO Box 70734 Johnson City, TN 37614-1710 | P 423-490-4211 | F 428-439-4004 August 1, 2022 Simon Hasis Head Women’s Basketball Coach ETSU Department of Athletics P.O. Box 70707 Johnson City, Tennessee 37614 Re: Notice of Intent to Terminate Dear Coach Harris: ‘This letter constitutes notice that East Tennessee State University intends to terminate your employment effective at 5:00 pm. on Monday, August 15, 2022. Beginning immediately, you are suspended with pay pending the effective date of your termination. ETSU hired you to be the Head Women’s Basketball Coach. In that role, you are responsible for performing duties normally associated with the position, including compliance with state and federal law, NCAA rules, and University policies. Pursuant to the terms of your employment agseement, SU may terminate you for cause if, in the reasonable and good faith judgment of the University, you have engaged in the following: a serious violation of NCAA rules; serious violation of University policies; behavior that brings you, the Department of Athletics, and the University into disrepute; or abusive treatment of student-athletes. As you know, the Office of University Compliance has been investigating complaints by two former women’s basketball players. That Office recently completed its investigation and will be releasing its report. You have received a copy of that report contemporaneously with this letter. The Office of University compliance made the following findings: + You adopted and implemented a team rule that is inconsistent with the University’s mission, vision, and values, that violates the University’s anti-discrimination policy, and that may violate Title IX of the Fducation Amendments of 1972. «You received allegations that two of your players violated that invalid rule, but you failed to verify the accusations before proceeding with disciplinary action against the players. In this regard, you violated the University’s policy on due process procedures.+ You took disciplinary action against the players based upon the invalid team rule, but you failed to provide even the most basic elements of fairness to the players: You did not inform the players of the allegations against them, Nor did you allow the players a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations. In this regard, you violated the University’s policy on duc process procedures. + You sought guidance from the University, but in doing so you misled the University about the players’ alleged behavior. + You unfairly applied your team rules by treating the dismissed players much mote harshly than any member of the team for breaking any other team rules. In this regaed, you violated the University’s core values of digaity, respect, and fairness, + After you dismissed the players, you attempted to cancel the players’ scholarships mid-year without justification for doing so. In this regard, you may have violated NCAA rules. + During the Compliance investigation, you were evasive and misleading. Your behavior constitutes a violation of the University’s investigations policy. In this regard, you violated the University’s investigations policy. + During the Compliance investigation, you provided an altered version of your team rules. Your behavior in this regard constitutes a violation of the University’s investigations policy. + During the Compliance investigation, you coerced one of your players to seek information about the disciplined players in exchange for assistance with her legal and academic concerns. Your behavior in this regard constitutes a violation of the University’s investigations policy and constitutes abusive treatment of your players. + During the Compliance investigation, you instructed a family member to obtain admissions from the dismissed players concerning their alleged violation of the team rule. + During the Compliance investigation, the University learned that you exposed the team to a disreputable individual who may have provided extra benefits to players in violation of NCAA rales. Based upon these findings, the University has reason to believe that you are responsible for serious violations of University policies; behavior that brings you, the Department of Athletics, and the University into disrepure; and abusive treatment of the University’s student-athletes, ‘The University also has reason to believe that you may be responsible for serious violations of NCAA rules Contemporaneously with the release of the report from the Office of Compliance, the University will begin an investigation into the allegations that may violate NCAA rules. Moreover, in accordance with the University’s responsibility as a member institution, the University will notify the NCAA of the potential violations. Based upon information the investigation uncovered to date, the University believes that your conduct is likely to lead to an NCAA finding of a Level | and/ot Level II violations of one or more Governing Athletic Rules. Your conduct, which has led to the need for an NCAA investigation, is bringing and will likely continue to bring the University into considerable public disrepute, embarrassment, contempt, scandal, and/or ridicule. Pursuant to the University’s Policy on Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct, you have the right to appeal the findings presented in the Final Investigation Report on Complaint of Sex Discrimination prepared by the Office of Compliance. If you would like to appeal, you must followthe procedute stated in that policy. You also have the right to file a grievance pursuant to the University’s Employee Grievance/Complaint Procedures. You are to relinquish all University property (including University issued keys, phones, and access cards) in your possession to Loti Erickson in the Human Resources Department, and you are to leave the building immediately. You are directed not to contact, ditectly or indirectly, current student athletes, prospective student athletes, or employees of the athletics depastment before the effective date of your termination. If you would like the opportunity to address the team, we will arrange for you to record a video statement and, if we deem the content acceptable, we will share it with the team, We are sad to see your tenure with the University end in this manner. We wish you the best of luck. Sincerely, Brian Noland President