In light of gambling’s pervasiveness in college sports, Tulane is taking a unique formal step to combat information sharing: requiring coaches and athletic staff to sign a nondisclosure agreement, reviewed by Sports Illustrated, that governs the release of “Confidential Information” in any form including financial, education or medical records relevant to sports betting. The form was revealed to coaches and staff in a meeting Monday, according to a person familiar with the gathering.
The documents goes on to state that access to confidential information must not be used to bet or shared with individuals associated with sports betting. If a staff member becomes aware of unauthorized disclosure, they’re supposed to notify the athletic department’s CFO. “Failure to abide by this Confidentiality Statement may subject me to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment,” the document reads.
“There have been incidents around the country where the intersection of gambling and college athletics have come to the forefront,” Tulane athletic director Troy Dannen says. “There are two concerns. One is the gambling itself, and that becomes fairly self-explanatory. But for us, this is a reminder to everyone who works in the department, from tutors to academic advisers to equipment to every staff member, that there’s also information that you hold because you’re around the athletes, you’re around the training room, you’re around the academic advisers. There’s information you hold that can also be used for gambling purposes, and that information needs to stay closely held for the protection of the athlete and the protection of the integrity of the game.”
