Maryland has parted ways with its strength and conditioning coach and said ‘mistakes were made’ in the treatment of offensive lineman Jordan McNair, who collapsed on the practice field and subsequently died.
Following Tuesday’s news conference, Maryland announced that Rick Court had resigned.
Athletic director Damon Evans and university President Wallace Loh met with the parents of 19-year-old McNair Tuesday morning.
McNair collapsed on the field on May 29 after a team workout and died June 13.
The University of Maryland announced its strength and conditioning coach Rick Court (seen above) had resigned following the death of a player at his practice over the summer
Coach’s Court’s resignation letter released on Monday is seen above
Jordan McNair (pictured) collapsed on the field on May 29 after a team workout and died June 13
It has been indicated that McNair (seen center in this family handout) died of a heat stroke
The attorney for the McNair family said a preliminary death certificate indicates the cause of death was heatstroke.
‘Walters found that the emergency response plan was not appropriately followed,’ Evans said, adding that McNair’s symptoms ‘were not properly identified or treated.’
He said: ‘We have learned that Jordan did not receive appropriate medical care, and mistakes were made by some of our athletic training personnel.’
Loh added: ‘The University accepts legal and moral responsibility for the mistakes that were made on that fateful day. They misdiagnosed the situation.
‘No vital signs were taken. Other safeguarding actions were not taken. For me, that’s enough for me to say I need to come to personally apologize.’
Maryland athletic director Damon Evans pauses as he speaks at a press conference held Tuesday, August 14, 2018, to address the school’s football program and the death of the offensive lineman, who collapsed on a practice field and subsequently died
University of Maryland president Wallace Loh speaks at a news conference, where he said ‘the university accepts legal and moral responsibility for the mistakes made on that fatal day’
Court had previously been placed on administrative leave.
Head coach DJ Durkin is also on administrative leave, but a decision on his future is not immediately forthcoming.
Dr. Rod Walters, a former college athletic trainer, has been hired by Maryland to investigate the circumstances of the death.
A report is expected by Sept. 15, but the school has been provided preliminary findings and shared some of those in a news conference.
‘We have hired an external review team to take a look at this, but as additional information comes forward, we will do what’s appropriate,’ Evans said.