Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has been suspended for Saturday’s game against Prairie View A&M after committing a secondary violation in which the Spartans employed an “individual associated with a prospect” at a camp this past summer.

This is a rule that went into place recently intended to cut down on the number of elite camps throughout the country.  Coaches are no longer able to hire a person associated with a prospect to work a camp.

The violation occurred during the annual Michigan State Boys Basketball Camp – according to a statement released by the program. The individual was paid the normal rate of $475 for five days.

“As an institution, we believe Coach Izzo and his staff have always demonstrated a commitment to compliance and will continue to do so,” MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis said in a statement. “This inadvertent secondary violation occurred in a changing landscape. We find ourselves in unchartered territory in light of this broad definition. Defining who is an IAWP can be difficult, especially when dealing with an individual that has demonstrated no influence on a prospect. It is also important to note that this is only a secondary violation, and with Coach Izzo sitting out a game, the case is closed. While the penalty seems severe for a secondary violation, this is a new mandate from the NCAA and the Basketball Focus Group by which we will abide.”

The NCAA Board of Directors strongly encouraged the use of suspensions for anyone violating the rule – and Izzo was hit with a one-game penalty.

“I’ve always placed a high importance on following the rules and pride myself on adhering to high standards of professional conduct and doing things the right way,” Izzo added in the statement. “This is an isolated and inadvertent secondary violation of a new rules interpretation. I regret that it happened.”

The reasoning to implement the rule was well-intended, but Izzo likely won’t be the only one receiving a suspension for violating it.

Coaches now can’t employ anyone that is associated or could be potentially associated with a prospect or could be given a suspension.