Rutgers suspended men’s basketball coach Mike Rice three games without pay and fined him $50,000 for a violation of department policy.
Athletic director Tim Pernetti announced the decision yesterday. He said the suspension is a result of inappropriate behavior and language, not NCAA violations.
“Mike will not be permitted to do anything. He’ll be removed from the program. He won’t be able to be active in his role as head basketball coach inside or outside the university,” Pernetti said. “The suspension for this period of time and these games is a complete removal from the program.”
Associate head coach David Cox will serve as the team’s interim coach. Rice will return to his duties as head coach Jan. 2 at Syracuse.
“I was made aware of some things within the last couple of weeks. We commenced a thorough, lengthy and fair investigation and this was the result of that investigation,” Pernetti said. “There was obviously some things that are not to the Rutgers’ standard that we evaluated and decided upon.”
Rutgers is 6-2 this season, and defeated George Washington, 68-65, on Tuesday at home. Rice, in his third season at the Big East school, apologized to his team and the university and says he’s made a commitment to becoming a better coach.