How far should a coach go to motivate players? According to Rutgers University, men’s basketball coach Mike Rice went way too far. The university fired Rice today, a day after a video of his vitriolic coaching style was put online. The footage, taken from the team’s practices between 2010 and 2012, shows Rice shoving and kicking his players, as well as shouting obscenities and sexually discriminatory slurs.
This is not the first time Rice has run into problems with his questionable coaching tactics. In December, Rice was suspended by Tim Pernetti, Rutger’s athletic director, for three games and was fined $50,000. ESPN’s Outside the Lines, which broke the story, is reporting that the suspension came after Pernetti viewed a 30-minute video of the team’s practices.
Rice’s dismissal was announced by Rutgers via Twitter. The tweet said: “Based upon recently revealed information and a review of previously discovered issues, Rutgers has terminated the contract of Mike Rice.”
Guest:
Chris Dufresne, college basketball & football columnist for the Los Angeles Times