Report: Rutgers coach Kyle Flood suspended three games following internal investigation
Rutgers University has suspended coach Kyle Flood for three games and fined him $50,000 stemming from a university-led investigation into whether he violated the university’s compliance rules, according to a report from NJ.com.
The university’s office of ethics and compliance, with help from outside counsel, was investigating the contents of an email Flood sent to a faculty member regarding the academic status of cornerback Nadir Barnwell, who was dealing with academic eligibility issues.
Well that worked out well pic.twitter.com/HdkDXhrrUL
— Colin Becht (@colinbecht) September 16, 2015
The details are coming now. Flood not only emailed the professor, but had an in-person meeting -- and this was after he was told not to.
— Steve Politi (@StevePoliti) September 16, 2015
Rutgers’ policy prohibits coaches from directly contacting faculty member regarding academics and states that: “All contact with faculty members or instructional staff, if necessary, should be handled by the Academic Support staff.”
According to Flood’s contract, Rutgers “may suspend Flood without pay pending the outcome of a compliance investigation.”
“At Rutgers, we hold our student-athletes to high academic standards befitting a great university. We adhere to a higher standard, one that I am responsible to be aware of,” Flood said in a statement. “I take full responsibility and accept the consequences of my actions. I care deeply about my student-athlete’s academic performance. As the head coach, when I recruit players, my responsibility to them and their families is to do all I can to make sure they leave Rutgers with a degree and are prepared for a successful life off the football field.
“Moving forward, I will make sure I adhere to all University policies and I will place an even greater emphasis with our staff on knowing, understanding and following every University, Big Ten and NCAA rule.”
Rutgers has been under intense scrutiny because of off-field issues. Six players, including Barnwell, have been dismissed from the program in the past two weeks because of arrests. On Sunday, Flood suspended star receiver Leonte Carroo — his second suspension of the season — for a Saturday night incident outside the football stadium that involved two of Carroo's female acquaintances. Carroo was charged with simple assault in a domestic violence incident. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
Rutgers opens conference play this weekend against Penn State. Norries Wilson will serve as interim head coach during Flood’s suspension.
For more Rutgers news, visit ScarletNation.com.
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