Rutgers University has placed women’s gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley on paid leave. This decision comes after an investigation found issues within the program, stating she led a “divided and dysfunctional” team.
The investigation was triggered by complaints from gymnasts about Salim-Beasley, who has been with the team since May 2018. The findings indicated that she “lost control” of the team and did not understand how her words and actions impacted the athletes.
Another concern from the investigation was the relationship between Salim-Beasley and former athletic director Pat Hobbs. The report suggested that Hobbs should have stepped back from decisions affecting her due to their connection. Hobbs resigned last August, shortly after the investigation was announced, citing health reasons.
He did not provide details about his relationship with Salim-Beasley when questioned but offered a written statement instead. Salim-Beasley spoke with investigators for over five hours but did not discuss Hobbs.
Gymnasts reported feeling dismissed by Salim-Beasley, especially when dealing with injuries. Some said they felt pressured to continue training or competing while in pain, leading to five athletes medically retiring during her time as coach.
The report noted that Salim-Beasley allegedly encouraged athletes with declining performance to retire, hoping to reassign their scholarships. However, she firmly denied pressuring anyone to compete while injured.
While the current season has been marked by conflict, opinions on Salim-Beasley’s role in this vary. Some athletes praised her coaching, while others highlighted the team’s internal issues as the source of problems.
Conversations about mental health were also a point of concern. Several gymnasts felt Salim-Beasley and her staff mishandled these issues, with one athlete comparing talking to her as “talking to a wall.” Interestingly, the university’s sports psychology director described her as very sensitive to mental health matters, acknowledging her experiences as a mother and former gymnast contribute to her awareness.
Ultimately, the investigation concluded that while Salim-Beasley believed she was acting in the best interests of her athletes, her actions negatively affected many of them.
The Rutgers women’s gymnastics team recently kicked off their Big Ten competition against Washington.
Check out this related article: Nic Nemeth Shares Excitement Over TNA’s Thriving Backstage Atmosphere: ‘This Is the Coolest Experience Ever!’
Source linkRutgers,Salim-Beasley,Umme Salim-Beasley
