Tim Pernetti said to be out as Rutgers AD

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2009 file photo, Tim Pernetti speaks to reporters after he was named the new athletic director at Rutgers University during a news conference on the university campus in Newark, N.J. A person familiar with the decision says Pernetti is out as Rutgers athletic director. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made yet. The school will hold a press conference on campus at 1 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2013.
FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2009 file photo, Tim Pernetti speaks to reporters after he was named the new athletic director at Rutgers University during a news conference on the university campus in Newark, N.J. A person familiar with the decision says Pernetti is out as Rutgers athletic director. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made yet. The school will hold a press conference on campus at 1 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2013.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Tim Pernetti is out as Rutgers athletic director, two days after the basketball coach was fired following a video that went public of Mike Rice shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players in practice and using anti-gay slurs.

The decision was confirmed to The Associated Press on Friday by a person familiar with the decision who spoke on condition of anonymity because an announcement has not been made yet. The school is to hold a campus news conference at 1 p.m. EDT.

Pernetti dismissed basketball coach Mike Rice Wednesday. The scandal has now cost Pernetti his position some five months after he didn't fire Rice when the video first became available.

Pernetti was given the video in late November by a former employee. With the approval of university President Robert Barchi, he suspended Rice for three games, fined him $75,000 and ordered him to attend anger management classes. But the video was broadcast Tuesday on ESPN, and prompted scores of sharp criticism nationwide.

Pernetti, 42, is a New Jersey native and a Rutgers graduate who played tight end for the Scarlet Knights from 1989-93.

The video shows numerous clips of Rice at practice firing basketballs at players, hitting them in the back, legs, feet and shoulders. Rice was also shown pushing players in the chest and grabbing them by their jerseys and yanking them around the court. Rice could be heard yelling obscenities at players and using anti-gay slurs.

Pernetti hired an independent investigation firm to look at the video, which was given to him by former director of player development Eric Murdock, and came to the original conclusion that a termination wasn't necessary. There has been some discrepancy this week in when Barchi saw the video. Pernetti said in a radio interview Tuesday, that Barchi saw the video in November, yet Barchi said in a statement Wednesday that he didn't see it until this week.

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