Rutgers President Gets Governor’s Backing

Associated PressPublished: May 29, 2013

PISCATAWAY, NJ - MAY 15: Julie Hermann looks on before being introduced as Rutgers University athletic director on May 15, 2013 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Hermann, 49, most recently served as University of Louisville's senior associate athletic director. She replaces Tim Pernetti who resigned on April 5 in the wake of footage came to light of then-head basketball coach Mike Rice physically and verbally abusing his players during multiple practices. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images)

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - It looks like the latest embarrassing episode in the athletic department will not cost the Rutgers University president his job.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has given President Robert Barchi a public show of support, saying he has "absolute confidence" in the president who was brought in last year to turn the state's flagship public university into a medical sciences powerhouse.

Some lawmakers are questioning Barchi's fitness for the job after allegations have surfaced that incoming athletic director Julie Hermann verbally abused players when she was a volleyball coach at Tennessee in the 1990s.

It's a touchy subject at Rutgers, where a basketball coach was fired and the previous athletic director resigned last month after a video was made public showing the coach yelling gay slurs and kicking players.

Filed Under: Chris Christie, Julie Hermann, Robert Barchi, Rutgers University

Categories: Sports