Improper sale of tickets led to UNI football coach's firing

Northern Iowa fired an assistant football coach after the school learned he pocketed money obtained from selling complimentary tickets, according to a document the school furnished to The Des Moines Register through the state's Open Records Act.

The name of the coach was redacted, but the report and school officials said it was an assistant coach who also had football operations responsibilities.

Matt Harken was in that position for eight seasons before resigning in November 2012.

According to the document, the school became aware in October 2012 that the coach "sold additional complimentary admissions to prospects' families and kept the money for himself."

Northern Iowa not only terminated the coach, according to the report it filed with the NCAA in July 2013, but also said:

--The school would not give high school coaches or two-year coaches complimentary tickets for the first two football games of the 2013 and 2014 seasons;

--Would not host the UNI Football Team Camp during the summer of 2014.

The NCAA agreed with the penalties that the school imposed on itself.

"What happened was observed by another staff member," athletic director Troy Dannen said. "It was quite brazen – something that will not be tolerated."