By Ted Sherman and Kelly Heyboer/The Star-Ledger
NEW BRUNSWICK — Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti, who hired and then opted not to fire the coach at the center of the growing scandal that has all but engulfed Rutgers University, was forced to resign today.
Saying he did so reluctantly, Pernetti called his continued tenure as athletic director "no longer sustainable for the university."
At the same time, he lay blame for the situation in part on the university and its president, Robert Barchi, in a letter released by the athletics department..
"As you know, my first instincts when I saw the videotape of Coach Rice's behavior was to fire him immediately," wrote Pernetti. "However, Rutgers decided to follow a process involving university lawyers, human resources professionals, and outside counsel. Following review of the independent investigative report, the consensus was that university policy would not justify dismissal. I have admitted my role in, and regret for, that decision, and wish that I had the opportunity to go back and override it for the sake of everyone involved."
University president Robert Barchi, accepting his resignation, agreed it was in the best interest of Rutgers, calling Pernetti a "sincere and honest" man who has made significant contributions to the university. He also apologized to members of the basketball team for Rice's abuse.
His downfall was startlingly swift, coming within just days of the broadcast of a series of video tapes depicting Rice screaming at players, throwing balls at them, cursing them in vile terms, and using homophobic slurs on the court. Pernetti had suspended and Rice back in December for his outbursts.
The videos, taken during various practices from 2010 through 2012, were brought to the attention of Pernetti and university officials last year by attorney for Eric Murdock—who served as director of player development—obtained them after his contract was not renewed. According to university officials, Pernetti immediately called Barchi when he learned about the videos in November.
The following day the university retained an outside investigator — Connell Foley LLP in Roseland — to review the tapes. The law firm submitted a 49-page report to the university with recommendations, which Rutgers has declined to release, and Pernetti then suspended Rice for three days and fine him $50,000.
After the suspension, the matter seemed to go away, until copies of the videos were obtained by ESPN after the university refused to settle a threatened lawsuit by attorneys for Murdock, who was seeking $950,000 to resolve the matter.
A slew of TV news trucks line College Avenue in New Brunswick in preparation for the announcement that Rutgers Athletic Director Tim Pernetti has resigned.
The footage of Rice and his assistant coach sparked wide outrage. Pernetti earlier in the week defended his decision not to fire Rice, calling it a first offense. But by Wednesday, he was forced to terminate Rice. Martelli resigned the same day.
Despite the action, attention quickly focused on Pernetti and there was widespread speculation yesterday that he would be next to go and those behind the scenes said there were ongoing negotiations between the university, Pernetti and his attorney throughout the day on Thursday.
The popular athletic director had a good deal of support among members of the board of governors, as well as many top donors to the athletics program.
Responding to Pernetti's assertions, Barchi said he did not recall the athletic director first advocating to fire Rice. He also confirmed that the university's general counsel who advised Pernetti had resigned from his leadership position.
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In his letter to Barchi, Pernetti acknowledged it was in the best interests of Rutgers University that he step down.
"I do so reluctantly because I always have and always will love Rutgers," he said. "My continued tenure as athletic director is no longer sustainable for the university which I attended and where a piece of me will always remain."
Of the incidents involving Mike Rice, he said only, "I always tried my best to do what is right. I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on the events which led to today."
Pernetti added that he hoped his tenure at Rutgers would not be judged by the one incident.
"I am proud of my efforts to lead Rutgers into the Big Ten, and of all of the accomplishments of our student-athletes in the classroom and on the field of play," he said. "It has been my great pleasure to serve my alma mater."
Pernetti, who is paid $410,000 a year, has been athletic director at Rutgers since 2009 — succeeding Robert Mulchahy, who was fired over spending abuses in the university's football program.
A former Rutgers tight end who later worked for CBS College Sports Network, the 42-year-old Pernetti served as the game analyst for the Rutgers Football Radio Network and had no experience as an athletic director before being tapped to take over the Rutgers program as director of intercollegiate athletics.
His first major hire was Mike Rice, who was offered the position in May 2010 as head basketball coach of Rutgers.
Outside the press conference several dozen students gathered to chant "Bring back Tim!" and sing the Rutgers fight song. Several said It was unfair to force Pernetti to resign.
"We just wanted as many students as we could to show support for Tim," said Aaron Patel, 21, a junior psychology major from Freehold.