DALLAS -- SMU fired basketball coach Jimmy Tubbs on Thursday after an internal investigation uncovered various NCAA violations.

Tubbs, who spent 12 years as an SMU assistant then two at Oklahoma, was a popular pick when he was hired two years ago. His teams went 27-30, including 13-16 this past season.

But at the only school to receive the NCAA's death penalty, following the rules is taken seriously. The Mustangs' football program was shut down for the 1987 season because of rampant violations and voluntarily sat out in 1988.

"SMU holds its coaches accountable for high standards of compliance with NCAA rules and university procedures in all areas of their programs," athletic director Jim Copeland said in a statement.

Copeland said the school turned itself in to the NCAA for alleged violations in February. That led to an investigation by the school, the NCAA and an independent firm.

"SMU's investigation to date has revealed NCAA violations in a number of areas in the program," Copeland said.

Now the school will have to find a replacement while it's in the process of changing athletic directors. Copeland is retiring at the end of May, with his replacement, Steve Orsini of Central Florida, taking over June 1.