Rutgers lacrosse coach suspended

Rutgers' head men's lacrosse coach Brian Brecht has been suspended while police investigate allegations of verbal abuse, the university said Friday.

The school did not provide details of the suspension or investigation by university police.

In a brief statement, President Robert L. Barchi declined to comment on the investigation itself.

"Let me reiterate that there is no place at Rutgers for words or actions that are inconsistent with the values of the university. Our student athletes, as all members of the Rutgers community, should know that our university is committed to promoting an atmosphere of respect and dignity," Barchi said.

The investigation comes less than three weeks after men's basketball coach Mike Rice was fired April 3 following the national broadcast of video footage showing him manhandling players and hurling basketballs and antigay slurs at them. That scandal claimed the jobs of assistant coach Jimmy Martelli, interim general counsel John Wolf, and athletic director Tim Pernetti.

"As I stressed earlier, we will be looking closely at all intercollegiate athletics at Rutgers going forward. If we find problems, we will address them."