Rutgers University plans to commission an independent review of how the school handled allegations that its men’s basketball coach physically and verbally abused his players, Rutgers officials have said.
“It is our intention to move quickly with this review,” said university president Robert Barchi and Ralph Izzo, chairman of the school’s board of governors.
Rutgers, the largest public college in New Jersey, received a video last year showing coach Mike Rice throwing basketballs at players’ heads and berating them with homophobic slurs during practices. The school suspended him for three games and fined him $50,000.
Last week, after the ESPN sports network broadcast the videos, Barchi watched them and fired Rice. The footage sparked outrage among students, faculty and fans.
Three other officials have left in the wake of Rice’s departure.