Rutgers has placed women's gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley on paid administrative leave after an investigation into the program revealed she “presided over a divided and dysfunctional organization.”
The school made the announcement Friday, less than a week after the findings of an outside investigation into Salim-Beasley's coaching methods were made public.
The report, prompted by multiple complaints filed against Salim-Beasley by Rutgers gymnasts, determined that Salim-Beasley, who has coached the program since May 2018, “lost control” of the team and “did not appear to fully understand the effect.” that his words and actions were having on many of the gymnasts.
The investigation also concluded that Salim-Beasley and former Rutgers athletic director Pat Hobbs had an inappropriate relationship that should have required Hobbs to refrain “from making decisions that may have a direct or indirect impact on the employee with whom they are involved.” a relationship.” due to university policy.
Hobbs resigned last August, citing health reasons. Investigators wrote that Hobbs resigned two days after the school's outside counsel notified him that an investigation was beginning into an alleged consensual relationship between Hobbs and Salim-Beasley.
Hobbs declined to be interviewed by investigators investigating the women's gymnastics program. He provided a written statement that did not fall into the nature of his relationship with Salim-Beasley. Salim-Beasley, who spoke with investigators for more than five hours, declined to answer questions about Hobbs.
Several gymnasts who spoke to investigators said Salim-Beasley “belittled” them if they were injured, and six athletes said their coaches “forced them to practice or compete despite experiencing pain.” Five gymnasts also “medically retired” from the sport during Salim-Beasley's tenure.
The report details that “the gymnasts alleged that Salim-Beasley pressured gymnasts with whom he had a 'declining' relationship to medically withdraw so that his scholarships could be reallocated to others.” Salim-Beasley “was adamant that she did not pressure gymnasts to compete when they were injured,” according to the report.
Investigators described the 2023-24 season as filled with “widespread discord and conflict,” but added that there was “striking disagreement” about Salim-Beasley's culpability in creating the environment, with some athletes praising Salim-Beasley's approach. and they blamed the internal authorities. team dynamics.
Several gymnasts told investigators that Salim-Beasley and members of the coaching staff “did not adequately handle mental health issues,” and one athlete said that talking to Salim Beasley was like “talking to a wall.” However, the school's director of sports psychology described Salim-Beasley as “the most sensitive and mental health-aware coach I have worked with thus far,” adding that “because Salim-Beasley is a mother and former gymnast, is 'too sensitive and aware' of mental health issues.”
Investigators concluded that “while it appears that Salim-Beasley sincerely believed that he had the best interests of the student-athletes at heart, his conduct clearly hurt many of them in significant ways.”
The Rutgers women's gymnastics team opened Big Ten competition Saturday against Washington.
