Umme Salim-Beasley, Rutgers University gymnastics head coach, was fired by the university this week. Beasley was accused of abusive coaching tactics by several student-athletes, and she was previously at the center of a cheating scandal with former Rutgers athletic director, Pat Hobbs.
According to NJ.com, Rutgers did not announce the decision to part ways with Beasley, but rather posted a press release announcing the new head coach will be Anastasia Candia. Candia has served as assistant coach for several years.
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Beasley has been on paid leave for several weeks after “multiple young women on the gymnastics team accused her of bullying, exclusion and favoritism, and leading a ‘toxic’ environment on the team.”
Gymnasts also described Beasley as belittling and body-shaming many of the student-athletes. They said “she abused more than half of the young women on the RU team.”
Rutgers has been investigating the student-athlete allegations, and its report substantiated the testimonies of the gymnasts.
Beasley’s contract had three remaining years, but the university has not commented on the potential for a buyout. If fired “without cause,” she must be paid the remainder of her contract, which totals over $500,000.
Following the completion of the investigation, university president Jonathan Holloway said he was “troubled to hear of the frustration and pain that a number of gymnastics team members experienced. It is especially concerning that student-athletes reported that they ‘never heard back after making a complaint, which contributed to the feeling that they were not being heard.’”
Some speculate that Beasley’s relationship with the former Rutgers athletic director may have led to the lack of response from athletics department leadership.
Beasley’s attorney, meanwhile, has blamed the whole investigation on gender bias. In a report by the law firm, Beasley’s attorney said the athletes’ allegations were “largely petty, invalid, and bias-driven responses to a female coach.”
