Rutgers puts women’s gymnastics coach on leave after report details unstable team environment
Rutgers University has placed women’s gymnastics coach Umm Salim-Beasley on paid administrative leave after an investigation into the program revealed she “presided over a divisive and dysfunctional organization.”
The school announced the news on Friday, less than a week after the results of an outside investigation into Salim Beasley’s coaching methods were released.
The report, prompted by multiple complaints against Salim Beasley by Rutgers gymnasts, determined that Beasley, who had coached the program since May 2018, ” lost control of the team” and “did not appear to fully understand the impact of her actions.” Words and actions have had an impact on many gymnasts. “
The investigation also concluded that Salim Beasley had an inappropriate relationship with former Rutgers athletic director Pat Hobbs and that Hobbs should have been required to recuse himself “from positions that could have direct or indirect consequences for employees with whom they had relationships.” Decisions that indirectly influence”. In accordance with university policy.
Hobbs resigned last August, citing health reasons. Investigators wrote that Hobbs resigned two days after the school’s outside lawyer notified him that it would begin an investigation into the alleged consensual relationship between Hobbs and Salim-Beasley.
Hobbs declined to be interviewed by investigators looking into the women’s gymnastics program. He provided a written statement that did not address the nature of his relationship with Salem-Beasley. Salim-Beasley spoke with investigators for more than five hours, refusing to answer questions about Hobbs.
Several gymnasts interviewed by investigators said Beasley “dismissed” them if they were injured, and six athletes said their coach “pushed them to practice despite the pain.” or competition”. Five gymnasts also “medically retired” from the sport during Salem-Beasley’s tenure.
The report details, “Gymnasts allege that Salim Beasley urged gymnasts with whom she had a ‘waning’ relationship to retire due to illness so she could reallocate their scholarships to others.” According to the report, Salim Beasley Lim-Beasley “insists that she does not force gymnasts to compete when they are injured.”
Investigators called the 2023-24 season filled with “widespread disharmony and conflict” but added that there was “alarming disagreement” over Salim Beasley’s responsibility for creating the environment, with some athletes praising Beasley – Beasley’s approach and put the blame on internal team dynamics.
Multiple gymnasts told investigators that Beasley and members of the coaching staff “did not handle mental health issues appropriately,” with one athlete saying that talking to Beasley was like “talking to a wall.” However, the school’s director of sports psychology described Beasley as “by far the most sensitive, mentally health-oriented coach I have ever worked with,” adding, “Because Beasley As a mother herself and a former gymnast, she is ‘overly sensitive and knowledgeable’ about mental health issues.
Investigators concluded that “while Salem-Beasley appeared to sincerely believe she had the best interests of her student-athletes at heart, her actions clearly severely harmed many of them.”
The Rutgers women’s gymnastics team opens Big Ten competition Saturday against the University of Washington.
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