Two NCAA investigators and one from the Pac-10 Conference questioned Neuheisel on Wednesday after receiving a tip that he put up $5,000 and won about $20,000 by picking Maryland in the 2002 tournament, the newspaper reported.
NCAA officials would not discuss the investigation.
The NCAA manual says coaches, staff members and athletes may not knowingly "solicit or accept a bet on any intercollegiate competition for any item [e.g., cash, shirt, dinner] that has tangible value."
"I never in my wildest dreams imagined I was doing anything to jeopardize my employment," Neuheisel told the Times after meeting with investigators. "I don't think I would ever put myself in that situation knowingly, but I'm hopeful I can be the coach at Washington. I'd certainly like to be."
Washington athletic director Barbara Hedges said she learned of Neuheisel's involvement in the betting pool Wednesday.
"Gambling is a serious violation of NCAA rules," Hedges said. "You can't minimize this. The university will take this very seriously."
The kind of pool Neuheisel described is not against state law unless a bookmaker is involved, but NCAA rules forbid any form of gambling on college sports by athletes and coaching staff.
Institutions can be sanctioned in such cases if violations were known to college officials or if the NCAA finds they should have known.
Neuheisel said he was part of a four-member "team" that had the overall winner in both years he participated in what he called a pizza-and-beer gathering. Neuheisel said his group split its winnings but would not discuss dollar amounts.
Under the format, participants bid on each team and the highest bid gets that team in the tournament.
"I was there really because most of these people were buddies of mine from my neighborhood," Neuheisel was quoted as saying. "Their kids went to the same school as my kids and I was an invitee. ... Obviously, it's become a point of contention, but I never imagined that I was doing anything wrong because we weren't dealing with bookies or lines or anything like that."
"We were just friends, like we were betting on golf holes. It seemed pretty harmless," he told the Times.
NCAA officials would not discuss the investigation.
The NCAA manual says coaches, staff members and athletes may not knowingly "solicit or accept a bet on any intercollegiate competition for any item [e.g., cash, shirt, dinner] that has tangible value."
"I never in my wildest dreams imagined I was doing anything to jeopardize my employment," Neuheisel told the Times after meeting with investigators. "I don't think I would ever put myself in that situation knowingly, but I'm hopeful I can be the coach at Washington. I'd certainly like to be."
Washington athletic director Barbara Hedges said she learned of Neuheisel's involvement in the betting pool Wednesday.
"Gambling is a serious violation of NCAA rules," Hedges said. "You can't minimize this. The university will take this very seriously."
The kind of pool Neuheisel described is not against state law unless a bookmaker is involved, but NCAA rules forbid any form of gambling on college sports by athletes and coaching staff.
Institutions can be sanctioned in such cases if violations were known to college officials or if the NCAA finds they should have known.
Neuheisel said he was part of a four-member "team" that had the overall winner in both years he participated in what he called a pizza-and-beer gathering. Neuheisel said his group split its winnings but would not discuss dollar amounts.
Under the format, participants bid on each team and the highest bid gets that team in the tournament.
"I was there really because most of these people were buddies of mine from my neighborhood," Neuheisel was quoted as saying. "Their kids went to the same school as my kids and I was an invitee. ... Obviously, it's become a point of contention, but I never imagined that I was doing anything wrong because we weren't dealing with bookies or lines or anything like that."
"We were just friends, like we were betting on golf holes. It seemed pretty harmless," he told the Times.
