Despite a Robert Morris internal investigation into former basketball coach Mike Rice finding no evidence of the "coaches against player" brawls alleged by an ex-Rutgers employee, one former Colonial contacted by the school claims Rice used anti-gay slurs on several occasions and engaged in a shoving match with a player during halftime while coaching at the school, ESPN reported Tuesday. Rice coached at Robert Morris from 2007-10 before taking the job at Rutgers, which he was fired from this week after a video surfaced showing practices with similar actions taking place.
One former player who transferred out of the program during Rice's tenure told athletic director Craig Coleman the coach directed anti-gay slurs at him and heaved a basketball in the direction of another player "once or twice" during his tenure at Robert Morris, which led to Rice's firing at Rutgers. Coleman, who led the investigation, spoke to the player allegedly involved in the shoving match and the player acknowledged getting into an argument with the coach, however, stressed there was no physical contact.
Former Rutgers employee Eric Murdock said Rice told him players and coaches at Robert Morris fought several times during practices, prompting Coleman to look into the matter. The school interviewed 17 people -- five current Robert Morris players, seven former players, three members of the coaching staff and two athletic trainers.
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