Out of Bounds

Rutgers Fires Abusive Coach

In response to widespread criticism.

Apparently, shoving, insulting, and throwing balls at players are not acceptable coaching tactics, as Mike Rice learned Monday. The now-ex Rutgers basketball coach was fired Wednesday following the circulation, and subsequent criticism, of a video documenting his violently aggressive behavior during practice. “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,” said the school’s athletics director, Tim Pernetti, who initially suspended Rice for three games and fined him $50,000 after first reviewing the tape in November. The president of Rutgers University spoke out Wednesday, calling Rice’s actions “deeply offensive,” an egregious violation of the university’s core values. Next stop for Coach Rice? Anger management.