Mississippi places head coach Adrian Wiggins on leave

• School and NCAA looking into "impermissible recruiting contacts and academic misconduct"
• Two members of Wiggins' staff, husand and wife Michael and Kenya Landers were fired
• AD Ross Bjork says no evidence Wiggins played complicit role or had knowledge of misconduct

OXFORD, Miss. — Mississippi has placed first-year women's basketball coach Adrian Wiggins on administrative leave as the university investigates "impermissible recruiting contacts and academic misconduct committed by members of his staff."

The school announced the move Saturday. It has also fired two staff members: assistant coach Kenya Landers and director of basketball operations Michael Landers.

The university and the NCAA are conducting a dual investigation.

Two players, Kay Caples and Brandy Broome, are ineligible to compete after failing to meet NCAA transfer eligibility standards. Both are junior college transfers; Caples came from Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, where she was coached by the Landerses (who are husband and wife and led the school to a national title last season).

"This is a sad day for the University of Mississippi, our profession and most importantly our student-athletes," athletics director Ross Bjork said in a statement. "We are committed to the values of professional integrity and academic honesty found in the University Creed and the vision, purpose and core values we have established since I arrived at Ole Miss. We expect our staff and our student-athletes to promote and uphold our values, and I am extremely disappointed these events have occurred."

Bjork's statement goes on to say that the school first learned of possible violations last month and, although there is no evidence of Wiggins playing a complicit role or having direct knowledge of the misconduct, he pays the price as head coach.

Wiggins was hired March 26 by Ole Miss after a successful tenure at Fresno State.

No interim coach has been named for the 2012-13 season, which begins Nov. 9.

Hugh Kellenberger also writes for The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Miss.