The National Collegiate Athletic Association has put Ohio State University on three years’ probation for a range of rules violations in its basketball program, but the former coaches who broke the rules will pay a more severe penalty than the university will, The Columbus Dispatch reported today.

The violations center on an improper $6,000 payment to the mother of a potential recruit by James J. O’Brien, the former head coach of men’s basketball. Both he and his assistant, Paul Biancardi, hid the payment from Ohio State officials. When it was disclosed, the university fired them. Mr. O’Brien sued and, just last month, won a major courtroom victory against Ohio State (The Chronicle, February 16).

But the NCAA placed both former coaches on “show cause” status, which makes them much less attractive to colleges that might wish to employ them in the future. Meanwhile, the NCAA did not bar Ohio State’s basketball team from postseason tournaments and did not dock scholarships, although the university will have to repay some $800,000 in earnings from playing in four NCAA tournaments.

Ohio State said it would not appeal. Mr. O’Brien said he would, and might even sue.