The NCAA announced that University of Oklahoma assistant football coach DeMarco Murray has been suspended for one game because of recruiting violations. The NCAA announced on Tuesday that an investigation revealed that Murray, who is OU's running backs coach, impermissibly contacted recruits and their families before the allowed time period. A news release states that Murray illegally contacted 17 prospects over a 16-month period, during which 65 impermissible phone calls and 36 impermissible text messages were made. Murray told investigators that he did not know that a COVID-19 waiver of recruiting contact rules had expired, according to the news release. The NCAA's enforcement staff determined during the investigation that OU had properly educated football coaches on the applicable recruiting rules and the timing of changes to them. The investigation also found violations within the track and field programs. The NCAA says former head coach Tim Langford directed a female student-athlete to give some of her scholarship funds to two student-athletes in the men's track and field program. Murray also was prohibited from off-campus recruiting during the 2023 fall evaluation, and he had his recruiting days limited to eight down from an average of 16.4 per recruiting coach. Both of those were served in 2023. "The University discovered the violations through its monitoring systems and investigated, reported, and addressed the matters promptly and appropriately," an athletics department spokesperson told KOCO 5 in a statement. "The violations in question were limited to the actions of a coach who is no longer employed by the University and a current assistant coach. OU worked with the NCAA to manage the review and reach a conclusion, and penalties imposed by the University are already in effect."The University of Oklahoma will serve one year of probation and pay a $5,000 fine. The OU football program also will serve a three-week ban on recruiting phone and electronic correspondence from Dec. 8, 2024, to March 31, 2025. Murray enters his fifth year on OU's coaching staff after a successful career in the Sooners' backfield. He was Oklahoma's career leader in all-purpose yards and touchdowns and was the 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year with the Dallas Cowboys. The Sooners kick off their season at 6 p.m. on Friday against Temple at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. It's unknown if Murray will serve his suspension during the opener or at a later date. Top Headlines Unbelievable OHP photo shows trailer stuck upright against sign over I-35 in Ardmore Man wins more than $430,000 – only a day after buying a new house, lottery officials say Oklahoma grocery tax cut takes effect Thursday, stores prepare for change Shawnee Public Schools superintendent placed on leave amid OSDE investigation Mariah Carey's mother and sister died on the same day. The singer says her 'heart is broken'