“There can be no separate college admissions system for the wealthy and I will add there will not be a separate criminal justice system, either,” Lelling said.

Brought in after another scandal

Ferguson has been head coach at Wake since June 4, 2016. He previously coached at the University of Southern California from 2005 until he was fired in 2015 after missing the NCAA Tournament for three consecutive seasons.

Ferguson replaced Ken Murzcek, who resigned at Wake Forest in April 2016 in the face of a second investigation into his treatment of his players over 18 months. The controversy put the spotlight on a program that has struggled to remain competitive in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Athletics Director Ron Wellman announced Ferguson’s hiring in 2016, saying Ferguson was chosen mainly because of his extensive background in the sport. Ferguson had led USC to three NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances.

Wellman, who will retire in May, said in 2016 he saw Ferguson as a coach who would help the team rebuild after the player-treatment scandal.

“I think he will be a healing agent,’’ Wellman said then.