PISCATAWAY, N.Y. — Rutgers has hired a law firm to conduct an investigation into allegations of harassment, favoritism and retaliation against athletes by the coach of its gymnastics program.
President Jonathan Holloway announced earlier this week that the university has hired Lowenstein Sandler partner Matthew Boxer to lead the investigation into the allegations against coach Umme Salim-Beasley.
The allegations coincided with the surprise retirement of Scarlet Knights athletic director Pat Hobbs on Aug. 16. Hobbs cited health issues as his reason for resigning.
Boxer, a former state comptroller and federal prosecutor in New Jersey, investigated the Rutgers softball program in 2020 after team members said coaches subjected athletes to emotional abuse and abusive conditioning.
NJ Advance Media was the first to report on the gymnastics allegations, speaking to seven former gymnasts and one still on the team who described a “toxic” climate at the program while detailing their experiences with Salim-Beasley.
“This effort will ensure that any and all concerns raised about the program have been thoroughly analyzed, determine whether appropriate follow-up action was taken, identify reasons for any potential insufficient responses, and recommend areas where additional action may be necessary,” Holloway said in a statement. “The review will also identify and address any concerns about team culture that are revealed.”
Holloway said the report's recommendations will be made public. He said the firm will receive a $50,000 retainer and a fee of $225,000 for the first month, which will be reduced to $195,000 for the second month. The fee will be revised if more time is needed to complete the review.
On Aug. 31, Holloway informed the university's board of trustees of the order for the external investigation. At the time, she wrote that she was confident the university had appropriately implemented its policies regarding the gymnastics program.
“Our learning environment depends on the safety, health, and mental well-being of all of our students, and the University strives in every aspect of our operations to foster an environment in which our students can thrive,” Holloway wrote. “The Rutgers Athletics Department shares this commitment. Whenever concerns or allegations arise about our support of students, the University investigates those concerns in accordance with our policies, the law, and, in the case of the Athletics Department, our NCAA standards.”
