KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Former Tennessee director of basketball operations Ken Johnson provided two free tickets to the mother of an athlete in March. The secondary violation ultimately played a role in his firing and the firing of coach Bruce Pearl and his staff.

Tennessee detailed the violation in a March 25 letter to the Southeastern Conference released to The Associated Press on Monday. The name of the athlete was blacked out.

The letter says Johnson provided the tickets after receiving a call a few hours before the Volunteers' March 6 game with Kentucky from someone "desperately trying to find two tickets." The letter says Johnson said he was not directed by any other staff member to provide the tickets.

Pearl and his staff were fired March 21.

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