Franklin-Simpson head coach Josh Matthews shouts Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013 during the game at Greenwood High School in Bowling Green, Ky. Franklin-Simpson won 59-42. (Joshua Lindsey/Daily News)

Former Franklin-Simpson girls’ basketball coach Josh Matthews issued a statement to the Daily News today, two days after he was sanctioned by the NCAA for violations stemming from his previous tenure as head coach at the Division II college program Henderson State in Arkadelphia, Ark.

Matthews resigned from his FSHS coaching position in May after three years at the helm but said in today’s statement that the NCAA investigation played no role in his departure. He came to Franklin after five seasons at Henderson State.

In his statement, Matthews wished to clarify media reports surrounding his violations outlined in the NCAA’s report, as well as the nature of his one-year “show-cause order” penalty.

“I am pleased with the NCAA Committee on Infractions’ decision in the Henderson State University matter,” Matthews said in the statement. “… After an extensive three-year investigation, the NCAA decision confirms that the only violations concerning me are secondary and isolated incidents.”

The NCAA placed Henderson State on two years probation and fined the school $2,500 for rules violations by the women’s basketball program. Matthews and the coach who followed him after the former’s firing in 2011, Chris Oestreich, were referred to in the report as “Head coach 1” and “Head coach 2,” respectively, for personnel privacy reasons.

The NCAA’s report said the organization became aware of possible violations in July 2011 through a newspaper article. Matthews told the Daily News that article was in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette and surrounded him.

“The university fired me in 2011, after initially offering me a contract extension, due to my objections about how the women’s basketball program was being handled by the administration,” Matthews said in the statement. “The NCAA investigation started after my subsequent comments to a local newspaper that were critical of Henderson State.”

The NCAA concluded in its report that Matthews was involved in multiple secondary violations. Among them were failing to complete forms for unofficial and official visits and tryouts, briefly observing out-of-season pickup games, using personal funds for recruiting and exceeding the limits of contact by phone with prospective student-athletes.

Additionally, Matthews purchased contact lenses for a student-athlete, telling the NCAA he believed it a “medical necessity,” and was later reimbursed by the player’s family. He also purchased a textbook for a student-athlete to use during summer school and was later reimbursed by the university.

Some of Oestreich’s violations were labeled “major” in nature, including providing impermissible meals to prospects and their family members and offering a loan to a prospect and her family.

Oestreich received a two-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA for “a failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance as well as unethical conduct.” During that two-year period, Oestreich is subject to many restrictions, including a ban from off-campus recruiting for one year.

Oestreich served as Matthews’ assistant before becoming interim head coach after Matthews’ firing. Oestreich was officially elevated to head coach midway through the 2011-12 season and resigned in November 2012.

The committee found that Matthews’ secondary violations “did not rise to level of a failure to promote an atmosphere for compliance” and gave him a one-year period of review.

Should Matthews seek employment at an NCAA institution over the next year, “he and the involved institution shall be required to either appear before the committee or submit a written proposal to the committee for consideration whether the member institution shall be subject to the show-cause order set forth in NCAA Bylaw 19, which could limit (Matthews’) athletically related duties at the hiring institution for the designated period.”

Matthews would not necessarily be subject to show-cause restrictions if he returned to an NCAA institution within a year, and he “will not have a permanent individual record file with the Office of the Committees on Infractions.”

Matthews said he initially disputed some of the alleged violations, which led to the long investigation process. Henderson State agreed with all violations, and Oestreich “either agreed with or did not contest the allegations made against him.”

“Contrary to media reports, due the secondary nature of the violations I can coach at the NCAA level after one year without any review, and I will not have a permanent records file concerning this matter,” Matthews said in his statement. “It has been a long three years, but I feel a measure of vindication, and I am glad this process is over.”

Matthews said he will always consider any coaching opportunities that arise – including at the college level – but he’s focused now on possibly entering education administration, which is the reason he gave for his resignation from the Franklin-Simpson girls’ basketball program in May.

He led the Lady Wildcats to a 57-36 record during three years at the helm. David Clark was hired to replace him about a week later.

Matthews remains a business teacher at the district’s alternative school, Franklin-Simpson High School West Campus.

“The NCAA investigation had no bearing on my decision to resign as the girls’ basketball coach at Franklin-Simpson High School,” he said in the statement. “I remain proud of the program I ran at Henderson State, the winning seasons, and most importantly the young women I had the privilege of coaching. My actions were always in the best interests of the student-athletes. I look forward to the future which involves taking some time off from coaching, continuing my teaching career, and spending time with my family.”

— Follow sports writer Zach Greenwell on Twitter at twitter.com/zach_greenwell or visit bgdailynews.com.