Investigation Finds “Dysfunction” at Rutgers Gymnastics Program
Report Surfaces on Extent of relationship between Ex-AD Hobbs and Gymnastics Coach. An investigation into the inappropriate relationship between former Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs and Gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley…
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – FEBRUARY 19: A detail of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights logo is seen at center court against the Syracuse Orange at Louis Brown Athletic Center on February 19, 2012 in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
(Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)Report Surfaces on Extent of relationship between Ex-AD Hobbs and Gymnastics Coach.
An investigation into the inappropriate relationship between former Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs and Gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley revealed that the Gymnastics program had a culture of total "dysfunction," and that the coach "lost control" of the program, according to multiple reports Friday afternoon.
The story broken initially by NJ.com further reports that Salim Beasley has been placed on paid administrative leave.
The four month investigation cost the school roughly $705,000 according to the report. 62 key witnesses were interviewed during the process.
The firm in charge of the investigation, Lowenstein Sandler LLP proports in its findings that: "...multiple student-athletes on the team made claims of bullying and favoritism by the coach and alleged that the coach did not properly address athlete injuries and mental health concerns. They contended (Hobbs) was similarly dismissive of their concerns."
A end of season surgery by the team found that Salim-Beasley was “unprofessional” and “does not care for the mental health of her athletes.”
As for Hobbs, he resigned for his position as Athletic Director during the summer, in a bombshell story that stunned many. At the time of his resignation he sited health concerns.
As we wrote in August: During Hobbs’s tenure, Rutgers saw some great success. He hired Steve Pikiell to run the men’s basketball program and watched Pikiell turn the program into a NCAA Tournament contender with back-to-back trips in 2021 and 2022. Men’s Basketball currently owns the number two recruiting class in the country behind Duke.
Hobbs was instrumental in bringing back Greg Schiano as Head Coach of the football program. Schiano has busily re-instilled the pride and confidence the football program. Rutgers won the Pinstripe Bowl over Miami back in 2023, and made it to the Rate Bowl last month.
Other sports like men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, baseball, and softball have all flourished to varying degrees under Hobbs’ tenure.
Moreover, scarlet Nation.com credits Hobbs with overseeing “the construction of the RWJ Barnabas Athletic Performance Center, as well as the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center.”
