Mike Rice Fired: Rutgers Basketball Coach FIRED after Abusive Practice Videos Go Viral on ESPN: Coach Kicks, Shoves, Hits, Berates Players with Gay Slurs [WATCH]

On Wednesday (April 3), Rutgers University released an official statement claiming that Mike Rice, head coach of the men's basketball team, had been fired. Shocking video footage of Rice kicking, shoving, hitting, and berating his players with gay slurs during b-ball practice aired on ESPN on Tuesday, causing a massive backlash. The University was made aware of the abusive footage as early as last year, but Athletic Director Tim Pernetti finally made the decision to relieve Rice from his third-year position early Wednesday. Read on for details.

Here is the clip originally aired on ESPN's "Outside of the Lines," which shows 44-year-old Rice at several team practices, hurling basketballs and forcefully shoving his players in fits of rage. Rice can also be heard screaming obscenities and gay slurs at the college students. The shocking footage was compiled by retired NBA player Eric Murdock (who was formerly hired as director of player development under Rice) during practices from 2010-2012. Murdock's lawyer claims that he was fired after complaining about Rice's inappropriate conduct.

 For the full story, go to ESPN.

Before officially firing Rice, Pernetti told WFAN Radio on Tuesday, "I spent more time with that option on whether we should fire Mike or not than any other option. At the same time, the results of the investigation and where we ended up, the determination was made to suspend him... In the end, I am not going to look back and say shoulda, woulda. All I can do is figure out going forward the decisions I can make to fix the problem for Rutgers."

In his statement issued on Wednesday, Pernetti states:

"I am responsible for the decision to attempt a rehabilitation of Coach Rice. Dismissal and corrective action were debated in December and I thought it was in the best interest of everyone to rehabilitate, but I was wrong. Moving forward, I will work to regain the trust of the Rutgers community."