[CTcard]

I suspect it wasn't quite as clear as "didn't need it". 

It seems quite likely that said student, while not a recruited athlete, got non-academic points in her application file for quality in sailing presumably vouched for by the coach. 
Otherwise, indeed the irony is thick and the coach a particularly talented scam artist for getting the $500,000 for not doing anything.

reported previously

But the student was admitted through the university’s normal process, a Stanford spokesman said Thursday, and not on the recommendation of disgraced sailing coach John Vandemoer, who pleaded guilty earlier this week to charges that he accepted $270,000 in payments to reserve coveted admission spots for applicants with bogus sailing bonafides.

Yes, but nevertheless I remain suspicious as to the details of that statement by the university, or at least the exact meaning of "not on the recommendation of disgraced sailing coach". 

One would generally think that a $500,000 donation to the sailing program by people connected to a student who fabricated competitive sailing credentials on her application would be linked in some manner. The university's actions tend to imply a link as well. But as I noted, it may be that the coach is a particularly talented scam artist. 
(though apparently not so talented as to avoid detection in the end).

[CTcard]

I suspect it wasn't quite as clear as "didn't need it". 

It seems quite likely that said student, while not a recruited athlete, got non-academic points in her application file for quality in sailing presumably vouched for by the coach. 
Otherwise, indeed the irony is thick and the coach a particularly talented scam artist for getting the $500,000 for not doing anything.

reported previously

But the student was admitted through the university’s normal process, a Stanford spokesman said Thursday, and not on the recommendation of disgraced sailing coach John Vandemoer, who pleaded guilty earlier this week to charges that he accepted $270,000 in payments to reserve coveted admission spots for applicants with bogus sailing bonafides.

Yes, but nevertheless I remain suspicious as to the details of that statement by the university, or at least the exact meaning of "not on the recommendation of disgraced sailing coach". 

One would generally think that a $500,000 donation to the sailing program by people connected to a student who fabricated competitive sailing credentials on her application would be linked in some manner. The university's actions tend to imply a link as well. But as I noted, it may be that the coach is a particularly talented scam artist. 
(though apparently not so talented as to avoid detection in the end).