By Michael Pearson and Brittany Brady, CNN
(CNN) — Rutgers University fired head basketball coach Mike Rice on Wednesday after ESPN broadcast a video showing him physically and verbally abusing players.
“Based upon recently revealed information and a review of previously discovered issues, Rutgers has terminated the contract of Mike Rice,” the school said in a tweet Wednesday.
“You f**king fairy… you’re a f**king fa**got,” Rice appears to say during one session depicted on the video.
The video, which ESPN said features excerpts of practice sessions shot between 2010 and 2012, earned Rice a three-game suspension and a $50,000 fine in November. Administrators at New Jersey’s flagship university were under pressure from incensed state officials to dismiss the fiery coach, the network said.
The speaker of the state assembly, Rep. Sheila Oliver, D-Essex/Passaic, had called for Rutgers to fire Rice, ESPN reported.
Conduct like that captured on the video is “unacceptable not only at our state university, but in all circumstances. It is offensive and unbecoming of our state,” the network quoted her as saying.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was “deeply disturbed” by the video, ESPN quoted spokesman Michael Drewniak as saying.
“It’s not the type of leadership we should be showing our young people and clearly there are questions about this behavior that need to be answered by the leaders at Rutgers University,” Drewniak said, according to ESPN.
CNN’s Laura Ly and Joe Sterling contributed to this report.
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