MT. PLEASANT, Mich. — Central Michigan University has fired gymnastics coach Jerry Reighard after an investigation found he tried to get an athlete to lie about concussion symptoms. A report from CMU's Faculty Personnel Services says Reighard committed "egregious misconduct" by trying to undermine the university's concussion management plan, created a hostile atmosphere and may have opened up CMU to potential NCAA violations.
CMU policy gives team doctors and trainers sole authority to determine when an athlete may resume playing after an injury. The report says Reighard repeatedly disregarded that policy. Reighard was given the results of the investigation on April 3 and told he had two weeks to respond to it. The university says his response "did not change the termination decision."
Athletic Director Michael Alford says CMU staffers have been in contact with the NCAA and the university "will cooperate fully in self-reporting the matters." Alford says he will conduct a nationwide search for a new gymnastics coach.
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