Report: Rutgers coach Kyle Flood suspended three games following internal investigation

Rutgers University has suspended coach Kyle Flood for three games and fined him $50,000 stemming from a university-led investigation into whether he violated the university’s compliance rules, according to a report from NJ.com.

The university’s office of ethics and compliance, with help from outside counsel, was investigating the contents of an email Flood sent to a faculty member regarding the academic status of cornerback Nadir Barnwell, who was dealing with academic eligibility issues.

Well that worked out well pic.twitter.com/HdkDXhrrUL

— Colin Becht (@colinbecht) September 16, 2015

The details are coming now. Flood not only emailed the professor, but had an in-person meeting — and this was after he was told not to.

— Steve Politi (@StevePoliti) September 16, 2015

Rutgers’ policy prohibits coaches from directly contacting faculty member regarding academics and states that: “All contact with faculty members or instructional staff, if necessary, should be handled by the Academic Support staff.”

According to Flood’s contract, Rutgers “may suspend Flood without pay pending the outcome of a compliance investigation.”

Rutgers issued a press release Wednesday stating that Flood would not be available for comment following Wednesday or Thursday’s practices, but has not commented on this matter.

Rutgers has been under intense scrutiny because of off-field issues. Six players, including Barnwell, have been dismissed from the program in the past two weeks because of arrests. On Sunday, Flood suspended star receiver Leonte Carroo — his second suspension of the season — for a Saturday night incident outside the football stadium that involved two of Carroo’s female acquaintances. Carroo was charged with simple assault in a domestic violence incident. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

Rutgers opens conference play this weekend against Penn State. It is unclear who will be the interim head coach during Flood’s suspension.

For more Rutgers news, visit ScarletNation.com.

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