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Rutgers University sacks basketball coach Mike Rice Basketball coach Mike Rice sacked by Rutgers University
(35 minutes later)
A US university has bowed to pressure to sack its head basketball coach after footage emerged showing him shoving players and screaming verbal abuse. A US university has bowed to pressure to sack its head basketball coach over footage of him physically abusing players and screaming homophobic slurs.
The dismissal of Mike Rice from Rutgers University in New Jersey was effective immediately, a college spokesman said.The dismissal of Mike Rice from Rutgers University in New Jersey was effective immediately, a college spokesman said.
The clips show Mr Rice using homophobic slurs, hurling balls at team members, as well as kicking and grabbing them.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and NBA star LeBron James were among those who condemned the coach's conduct.New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and NBA star LeBron James were among those who condemned the coach's conduct.
Featuring clips shot between 2010-12, the video was viewed by Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti late last year, ESPN reported. Mr Rice apologised on Wednesday, saying there was no excuse for his actions captured on video.
The university then suspended him for three games and asked him to pay a $50,000 (£33,000) fine. He was recruited in 2010 to be head basketball coach at Rutgers, which finished last season near the bottom of their league, the prestigious Big East Conference.
"I've let so many people down: my players, my administration, Rutgers University, the fans," Mr Rice told ABC News in an interview outside his home.
"My family [are] sitting in their house just huddled around because of the fact that their father was an embarrassment to them."
'Disturbing behaviour'
Featuring clips shot between 2010-12, the video shows Mr Rice shouting obscenities, hurling balls at team members, as well as kicking and grabbing them.
Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti viewed the footage late last year, ESPN reported.
The university then suspended Mr Rice for three games and asked him to pay a $50,000 (£33,000) fine.
On Wednesday, Rutgers President Robert Barchi said in a statement on the university website: "Coach Rice's abusive language and actions are deeply offensive and egregiously violate the university's core values."
Mr Barchi added that the video revealed a "chronic and pervasive pattern of disturbing behaviour", which led to his dismissal.
The decision to fire Mr Rice comes amid mounting pressure at both state and national level for the university to take action.
Gov Christie was "deeply disturbed" by the footage, said his spokesman Michael Drewniak.
"It's not the type of leadership we should be showing our young people and clearly there are questions about this behaviour that need to be answered by the leaders at Rutgers University," he told ESPN.
New Jersey Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said the coach's conduct was "unbecoming of our state".
She called for an investigation into why Rutgers decided not to fire Mr Rice when it first became aware of the video.
One of the most famous basketball players in the US, the Miami Heat's LeBron James, tweeted: "If my son played for Rutgers or a coach like that he would have some real explaining to do and I'm still gone whoop on him afterwards! C'mon.''
Athletic director Mr Pernetti apologised for not taking more robust action when the footage first came to his attention.
"I am responsible for the decision to attempt a rehabilitation of Coach Rice," he said in a written statement.
Saying that Rutgers had considered firing him at the time, Mr Pernetti added: "I thought it was in the best interest of everyone to rehabilitate, but I was wrong."