An inside look at the sudden resignation of Rutgers AD Pat Hobbs

Pat Hobbs abruptly resigned from his position as Rutgers AD on FridayGetty Images

Rutgers officials were “concerned” about former AD Pat Hobbs’ relationship with gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley “long before his sudden resignation left a leadership vacuum in the department,” according to sources cited by Politi & Fonseca of the Newark STAR-LEDGER became. Sources said Rutgers Board of Regents Chairman Mark Angelson told Hobbs in mid-June that the university had “opened an investigation into an inappropriate, consensual relationship between him and a coach in his department.” Two months later, in a meeting scheduled for August 16 at 10 a.m. ET, Hobbs received official notice of this investigation in a letter that also stated that he must “turn in all electronic devices used for university business.” . But that meeting “never happened,” as Hobbs said resigned that morning in a move to “stun senior athletic department officials” who had sat in a planning meeting with him just two days earlier. Politi & Fonseca report that Hobbs traveled “at least five times to the same location as the gymnastics team” and Salim-Beasley, whom he hired in 2018 and who “received multiple raises.” Hobbs “regularly participated in gymnastics practices and team events during his final 14 months in that position.” The behavior “caused a stir among several gymnasts and other athletic department employees,” who understood how unusual it was for a Big Ten AD to ” to devote so much attention to a non-profitable sport.” Politi & Fonseca also notes that Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway “was aware of the investigation into the inappropriate relationship” and “still has not addressed concerns from gymnasts who did not believe Hobbs could objectively assess their coach” (Newark STAR-LEDGER, October 17th).