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Sources: Tennessee's Donnie Tyndall had second meeting with NCAA investigators

Tennessee coach Donnie Tyndall had a second meeting with NCAA investigators March 16, sources told Yahoo Sports. The NCAA has been looking into potential violations during Tyndall's tenure at Southern Mississippi.

The outcome of the investigation at Southern Miss, where Tyndall coached from 2012-14, could have a direct impact on the coach's future at Tennessee. Southern Miss already has penalized itself, self-imposing a postseason ban this year for reported violations involving three players.

Tennessee coach Donnie Tyndall communicates with his players during a game. (USAT)
Tennessee coach Donnie Tyndall communicates with his players during a game. (USAT)

It is unclear whether the second meeting with Tyndall resulted in a culmination of the investigation. Volunteers athletic director Dave Hart said during the Southeastern Conference tournament that the school was waiting for more information from the NCAA before making any decisions on Tyndall, who first met with the NCAA last November, according to media reports.

"We understand that they have to finish looking into everything that they need answers to before they would tell us where they are," Hart told Nashville radio station WGFX. "We understand that that's the situation."

Tyndall's contract with the Vols allows the school to fire him for cause if he is found to have committed a major (Level I or Level II) violation at another program.

At Tyndall's first head-coaching stop, Morehead State, the school was placed on probation in 2010 for violations related to impermissible booster activity. Tyndall accepted responsibility for the violations.

The Volunteers went 16-16 this year, in their first season under Tyndall. Hart praised Tyndall's work this week to the Associated Press, including his handling of the NCAA affair.

"I thought he handled that extremely well," Hart told the AP. "I don't think Donnie allowed that to affect the team, nor did he allow it to affect the job that he had to do. Donnie not only has done a good job here as the basketball coach, he's proved to be a good fit. He's connected with our community. He and his wife do a good job with the community, do that willingly and enthusiastically. From those two perspectives, I think he's been very, very good."