The NCAA upheld its nine-game suspension of Syracuse head basketball coach Jim Boeheim on Thursday.

The suspension was imposed in March after an investigation into Syracuse’s athletic department. Boeheim was suspend nine games for being part of violations of academic misconduct, extra benefits, and the university’s drug policy. He appealed the suspension, saying that the penalties were "unduly harsh."

The NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee said in its ruling that Boeheim wasn’t directly involved in the violations, according to the Associated Press. In addition to Boeheim’s suspension, Syracuse was docked three scholarships a year through 2018, 101 of Boeheim’s wins were vacated, recruiting limitations were placed through 2017, and Syracuse was placed on probation for five years, CBS Sports notes.

Last week, the NCAA restored four basketball scholarships that it had originally taken away from Syracuse.

"The Appeals Committee determined that the NCAA Committee on Infractions 'abused its discretion' by directing the suspension be served during conference play, because Coach Boeheim was not directly involved in the underlying violations of the case," Syracuse senior vice president Kevin Quinn said in a statement. "The University is pleased the Appeals Committee recognized that the initial sanction imposed on Coach Boeheim was too harsh. Nevertheless, we supported Coach Boeheim's argument made during his hearing that any nine-game suspension would be too severe based on previous cases, and his lack of involvement in the underlying conduct, which the Appeals Committee recognized."

Boeheim, who plans to retire within the next three years, will begin serving the suspension on Saturday. The suspension was initially going to be served during conference play, but was moved to the non-conference season. He will now sit out of six non-conference games and three Atlantic Coast Conference games.

Boeheim can’t have any contact with the team, work in his office, or do his contractual tv and radio shows during the suspension, according to ESPN. Assistant head coach Mike Hopkins will coach the team during Boeheim’s suspension.

Boeheim will be able to return on Jan. 9. Syracuse is currently 6-1.