NCAA Rules Won't Let Missouri State Baseball Team Pay Coach Diagnosed With Cancer

In truly disconcerting news, Craig Massoni, a Missouri State volunteer assistant baseball coach, is facing a battle with cancer and the community is being forced to raise funds to help him pay for the damning costs of his treatment.

Why? Well, Massoni is technically serving in an unpaid position for the Bears, and NCAA rules will NOT allow the school to provide him with a salary for his work.

Absolutely terrible.

Here's more from Wyatt D. Wheeler of the Springfield News-Leader:

"The NCAA allows three full-time roles on baseball and softball staffs — a head coach and two assistant coaches. In Missouri State baseball's case, it pays Guttin, Paul Evans and Matt Lawson.

"This past April, member conferences had an opportunity to change that legislation. The SEC proposed an amendment to allow — not require — schools to employ four full-time staff members and get rid of the volunteer coach position. 

"Missouri State's administration and the Missouri Valley Conference were in favor of adding the new full-time position, according to Guttin."

Prior to arriving in Missouri in July, Massoni was diagnosed with the most threatening form of skin cancer: malignant melanoma. Since he left a similar position he held with Arkansas State, the volunteer coach has been shifting between Springfield and Nashville for treatment.

When diagnosed back in June, Massoni took to Twitter to shed a positive light on the otherwise discouraging update. WARNING: it's so uplifting that it will (somehow) make you feel even worse about the NCAA's cruel standing.

What more is there to say?

The NCAA truly never fails to blow our minds, and, more often than not, it's for all of the wrong reasons. Go right ahead and add this storyline to that ever-expanding tally.