Another One Bites the Dust: Rutgers Athletic Director Out After Mike Rice Scandal [Updated]

First Rutgers fired Mike Rice. Then Jimmy Martelli, an assistant coach, resigned. As did  the university’s legal counsel John Wolf. Now comes news that Athletic Director Tim Pernetti, who declined to fire Rice when he first learned of the coach’s abusive behavior, is gone too. (He was first informed of Rice’s behavior by an assistant coach last summer, saw video in November, and suspended the coach for three games in December.) It’s unclear whether the parting was mutual; a press conference is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Pernetti, who’d never before coached or led a sports program before becoming A.D. at Rutgers, was in the midst of sensitive negotiations to get the school into the prestigious Big 10 Conference when he learned about Rice. Rutgers was ultimately admitted, something the Big Ten probably isn’t too happy about right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHv8uz4V1H4

[NY Times]

Update [4:40 p.m.]: Pernetti appears to have resigned (more or less) on his own volition, saying in a letter his original intent was always to fire Mike Rice, despite earlier comments suggesting his goal was rehabilitation.