Siena AD disputes NCAA conclusion that Saints made 'institutional mistake' allowing Antonio Chandler to play

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Siena Athletic Director John D'Argenio speaks about his mens head lacrosse coach Liam Gleason during a press conference on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Colonie, NY. Gleason died earlier in the day after falling down stairs at his home three days earlier, causing a traumatic brain injury. (Jim Franco/Times Union) (Jim Franco/Times Union)


ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Siena University athletic director John D'Argenio disagreed Saturday with the NCAA's conclusion that his school made an "institutional mistake" by allowing graduate forward Antonio Chandler to play this season.

The NCAA ruled Friday that Chandler, who is in his seventh year of college, is ineligible to play in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament at Boardwalk Hall. Siena prepared to play without the starting forward against Mount St. Mary's in a quarterfinal on Saturday night.

Chandler also lost a bid in New York State Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order that would have allowed him to play this weekend.

In court documents, the NCAA maintained Siena "misapplied the waiver" that enabled him to play in 29 games this season, including in 19 victories.

"We don't see it that way at this time," D'Argenio said. "The way we saw it, he has four seasons of NCAA competition (available), and he's in his fourth season."

In fact, this was Chandler's fourth full season of NCAA basketball. He played two years at Division II Franklin Pierce in 2019-20 and 2022-23. He also played last season at Division II Southern Connecticut before transferring to Siena.

Chandler had his 2020-21 season wiped out by COVID-19 and had shoulder surgery that ended his 2021-22 season. He spent the 2023-24 season at University of Jamestown, a NAIA institution.

However, the NCAA said Chandler is ineligible because his eligibility clock had expired. The NCAA allows athletes five years to play four seasons or six to play five if they received a COVID waiver.

This season, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to athletes who played at least one season of non-NCAA competition. While Chandler fits that description, the NCAA says the waiver didn't apply to Chandler because his eligibility clock was already completed.

"We thought he was eligible based on all the criteria we looked at, in terms of redshirt, COVID, et cetera," D'Argenio said. "The assumption was he was eligible."

D'Argenio said Siena will continue to look into whether someone should have realized sooner there was a potential problem.

"I think we've got to keep digging into everything, right, the timeline," D'Argenio said. "I think the NCAA might have had a short conversation with our compliance officer, so we have to continue that."

Siena signed Chandler last April, before the school had a change in compliance officers. Siena hired Riley Powell as its new assistant athletic director for compliance in January.

D'Argenio repeated that Chandler is not at fault and the school fully supports him. Asked who is to blame, D'Argenio replied: "We don't see it that there was a mistake made. We thought we had everything in line, so I'm not ready to say if there is anybody at fault."

MAAC commissioner Travis Tellitocci said the league first became aware of a potential eligibility problem for Chandler during its customary review of team rosters before the MAAC Tournament. The league notified Siena on Feb. 25, according to the NCAA. Siena discussed the matter with the NCAA before holding out Chandler against Fairfield and Rider to close the regular season.

D'Argenio said he had not heard whether any rival MAAC school might have red-flagged Chandler to the league.

The Saints won only one game without Chandler this season. Regardless, the MAAC is allowing Siena to play in the conference tournament. If the Saints win it, they'll represent the league in the NCAA Tournament.

"It's not my question to answer (if Siena should be in the MAAC Tournament)," D'Argenio said. "We're here. He's not playing."

He said he had "no idea" whether Siena could face eventual discipline from the MAAC or NCAA.

D'Argenio said he has discussed Chandler's situation with Siena president Chuck Seifert.

"I'm not going to reveal our conversations," D'Argenio said.

This article originally published at Siena AD disputes NCAA conclusion that Saints made 'institutional mistake' allowing Antonio Chandler to play.

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