A few months ago, Rutgers University athletics received a sudden surprise when now-former athletic director Pat Hobbs abruptly resigned right before the college football season.
Hobbs had overseen the early years of Rutgers’ transition to the Big Ten Conference and ultimately the return of head coach Greg Schiano in 2020, who has since turned the Scarlet Knights from minnow to formidable.
But Hobbs’ self-imposed ousting was apparently the result of an investigation into a “relationship” he had with the school’s gymnastics coach, Umme Salim-Beasley.
According to USA Today, Hobbs chose to quit on August 16, 2024 just two days after learning that the school was investigating “an allegation of a consensual relationship with Salim-Beasley.”
BREAKING — A 4-month investigation found that Rutgers gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley “presided over a divided & dysfunctional organization” while having a relationship with ex-AD Pat Hobbs that violated school policy, a report obtained by NJAM shows: https://t.co/LdhKFZW5pE
— Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) January 17, 2025
Per the report, Hobbs had been increasing his presence at gymnastics competitions and practices more and more leading up to his resignation, with some members of the gymnastics team noting some “unusual behavior” and comments that Hobbs and Salim-Besley made at a tarot-card reading event.
“Hobbs had been attending competitions and practices more than in previous years, gymnasts who were interviewed said, and they reported unusual behavior including comments Hobbs and Salim-Beasley made toward each other at a tarot-card reading event,” the outlet reported.
“Meanwhile, Salim-Beasley ‘lost control’ of her program and at times ‘presided over a divided and dysfunctional organization,’ the investigation concluded.”
The report was made public on Friday and Salim-Beasley was subsequently placed on paid administrative leave.
The investigation was conducted by Lowenstein Sandler LLP, which interviewed 62 witnesses – Hobbs not among them – in response to reports of a “toxic environment” in the gymnastics program that saw student-athletes make complaints of bullying and favoritism were rampant. The players alleged that the coach did not properly address concerns about injuries and mental health and felt that Hobbs was also dismissive of those concerns.
“…following reports of a toxic environment in its gymnastics program…multiple student-athletes on the team made claims of bullying and favoritism by the coach and alleged that the coach did not properly address athlete injuries and mental health concerns. They contended (Hobbs) was similarly dismissive of their concerns,” the Lowenstein report stated.
The Rutgers football team went on to have one of their best regular season records in recent memory, winning seven games in the regular season – their most since 2012.
Related: Report: Big Ten Athletic Director Resigns Right Before Start Of College Football Season