Rutgers' basketball coach Mike Rice was fired after a video aired showing him physically and verbally abusing players. According to ESPN on April 3, Rutgers terminated their head coach after three seasons and will start a nationwide search to find his replacement.
The Mike Rice videotape hit ESPN on Tuesday and Gov. Chris Christie called for Rutgers to fire Rice. Rutgers' Athletic Director Tim Pernetti originally saw the tape in November 2012, hired a private team to analyze the tape, and then passed down a three game suspension, $50,000 fine and ordered Rice to attend anger management classes.
Rutgers' president Robert Barchi signed off on the punishment.
The Mike Rice videotape showed the coach shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players, as well as using gay slurs during team practices.
However, when the videotape went public, it seems the school was shamed into firing him despite the earlier punishments. However, Rutgers administration claims the termination was not for the Mike Rice videotape released by ESPN, but for other issues discovered since.
"I am responsible for the decision to attempt a rehabilitation of Coach Rice," Pernetti said. "Dismissal and corrective action were debated in December and I thought it was in the best interest of everyone to rehabilitate, but I was wrong. Moving forward, I will work to regain the trust of the Rutgers community."
The statement is worded carefully, showing that Rutgers' goals was to help rehabilitate Rice, but they were unable to accomplish that goal.
Rutgers' basketball coach Mike Rice finished his three year stint with a 16-38 record.
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