UT tennis coach to plead guilty in college scheme
AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - The former men's tennis coach at the University of Texas at Austin has agreed to plead guilty in the sweeping college admissions bribery scandal. Federal authorities said Monday that Michael Center will plead guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.
Center was accused of accepting nearly $100,000 to help a non-tennis playing applicant get admitted as a recruit. Once enrolled, the student never played.
He was among several coaches at elite universities charged in the scam, which also ensnared prominent parents and Hollywood actresses. Prosecutors said in court documents made public Monday that "Desperate Housewives" star Felicity Huffman and 12 other parents have also agreed to plead guilty. Huffman was accused of paying $15,000 to rig her daughter's college entrance exam.
Officials say parents paid an admissions consultant to rig their children's test scores and bribe coaches at elite universities to designate their kids as athletic recruits.
Fellow actress Lori Loughlin and Loughlin's fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, are also charged in the scam. They are not among those who've agreed to plead guilty and haven't publicly addressed the allegations.
The Assoiciated Press contributed to this report
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