FOXNews.com: FIRED: Rutgers 'Terminates' Coach After Furor Over Abuse Video

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FIRED: Rutgers 'Terminates' Coach After Furor Over Abuse Video Apr 3rd 2013, 17:14 FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2012, file photo, Rutgers coach Mike Rice reacts to play during an NCAA college basketball game against Connecticut in Piscataway, N.J. The airing Tuesday, April 2, 2013, of a videotape of Rice using gay slurs, shoving and grabbing his players and throwing balls at them in practice over the past three seasons has Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti reconsidering his decision not to fire the coach. Pernetti was given a copy of the video in late November by a disgruntled former employee, and he suspended Rice for three games, fined him $50,000 and made him undergo anger management classes for inappropriate behavior after investigating it. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz, File)(AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)The Associated Press FILE - In this May 6, 2010, file photo, Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti, right, presents Mike Rice with a jersey after Rice was introduced as the school's men's basketball coach during a news conference in Piscataway, N.J. The airing Tuesday, April 2, 2013, of a videotape of Rice using gay slurs, shoving and grabbing his players and throwing balls at them in practice over the past three seasons has Pernetti reconsidering his decision not to fire the coach. Pernetti was given a copy of the video in late November by a disgruntled former employee, and he suspended Rice for three games, fined him $50,000 and made him undergo anger management classes for inappropriate behavior after investigating it. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz, File)The Associated Press FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2012, file photo, Rutgers coach Mike Rice waves as he holds a ball presented to him for his 100th career win after Rutgers defeated Cincinnati in an NCAA college basketball game in Piscataway, N.J. ESPN's airing on Tuesday, April 2, 2013, of a videotape of Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice using gay slurs, shoving and grabbing his players and throwing balls at them in practice over the past three seasons has the university's athletic director reconsidering his decision not to fire the coach. Scarlet Knights AD Tim Pernetti was given a copy of the video in late November by a disgruntled former employee, and he suspended Rice for three games, fined him $50,000 and made him undergo anger management classes for inappropriate behavior after investigating it. (AP Photo/Mel Evans,file)The Associated Press FILE - In this March 12, 2013, file photo, Rutgers coach Mike Rice yells out to his team during an NCAA college basketball game against DePaul at the Big East tournament in New York. Rutgers said it would reconsider its decision to retain Rice after a videotape aired showing him shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players in practice and using gay slurs. The videotape, broadcast Tuesday, April 2, on ESPN, prompted scores of outraged social media comments as well as sharp criticism from Gov. Chris Christie and NBA star LeBron James. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)The Associated Press Next Slide Previous Slide DEVELOPING:  Rutgers officials announced Wednesday that the New Jersey university has fired men's basketball coach Mike Rice following the release of videos depicting him hurling balls and yelling gay slurs at players. Rutgers' athletic department announced the termination on its Twitter page. "Based upon recently revealed information and a review of previously discovered issues, Rutgers has terminated the contract of Mike Rice," the posting read. The state school previously punished Rice in December, suspending him for three games and fining him $50,000. Athletic director Tim Pernetti said Tuesday that the school was reconsidering its decision to retain the 44-year-old coach. "I am responsible for the decision to attempt a rehabilitation of Coach Rice," Pernetti said in a statement on Wednesday. "Dismissal and corrective action were debated in December and I thought it was in the best interest of everyone to rehabilitate, but I was wrong. Moving forward, I will work to regain the trust of the Rutgers community." The videotape, which was broadcast Tuesday on ESPN, prompted scores of outraged social media comments, as well as criticism from Gov. Chris Christie and NBA star LeBron James. The head of the New Jersey Assembly also called for Rice to be fired. A national search to replace Rice, who reportedly earned an average of $650,000 annually when he signed a five-year deal in 2010, will now take place after three relatively unsuccessful seasons at the Big East school. Pernetti received a copy of the video in November and then hired independent investigators to analyze the tape. Rutgers President Robert Barchi, in a statement obtained by FoxNews.com, said Rice's language and actions were "deeply offensive and egregiously violate" the university's values. "Yesterday, I personally reviewed the video evidence, which shows a chronic and pervasive pattern of disturbing behavior," the statement released on Wednesday read. "I have now reached the conclusion that Coach Rice cannot continue to serve effectively in a position that demands the highest levels of leadership, responsibility and public accountability. He cannot continue to coach at Rutgers University." Gov. Christie, meanwhile, said he "completely" supported the decision to terminate Rice. "It was the right and necessary action to take in light of the conduct displayed on the videotape," Christie's statement read. "Parents entrust their sons to the Rutgers Athletic Department and the men's basketball program at an incredibly formative period of their lives. The way these young men were treated by the head coach was completely unacceptable and violates the trust those parents put in Rutgers University. All of the student-athletes entrusted to our care deserve much better. "As we move on from this incident, I am very optimistic that Rutgers will select a new head coach who not only puts a winning team on the court, but will make everyone proud of the example he sets every day for the young men in his charge." The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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