Maryland Strength Coach Rick Court Resigns in Wake of Jordan McNair's Death

Maryland Terrapins strength coach Rick Court has resigned amid an investigation into the allegations of a "toxic culture" detailed in a recent ESPN report.

Court released a statement about the decision on Tuesday:

Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports initially reported the news. Per Thamel, Court and the school reached a settlement agreement to end their relationship. Thamel added that the former coach would receive a lump sum of $315,000, which is approximately two-thirds of what remained on his contract.

In the ESPN report, Heather Dinich, Adam Rittenberg and Tom VanHaaren identified Court as a culprit:

"There is a coaching environment based on fear and intimidation. In one example, a player holding a meal while in a meeting had the meal slapped out of his hands in front of the team. At other times, small weights and other objects were thrown in the direction of players when Court was angry."

Among the other alleged incidents were "extreme verbal abuse of players" as well as coaches endorsing unhealthy eating habits.

Nineteen-year-old offensive lineman Jordan McNair died in June after collapsing during an offseason workout on May 29, which ESPN's Heather Dinich reported was the result of heatstroke after his body had registered a temperature of 106 degrees.

Maryland athletic director Damon Evans issued a statement on Tuesday:

According to Don Markus of the Baltimore Sun, Evans and Maryland president Wallace D. Loh Loh met with McNair's parents on Tuesday to "apologize" and to take "legal and moral responsibility" for the mistakes that led to the lineman's death.

Head coach DJ Durkin had already been put on administrative leave, with offensive coordinator Matt Canada taking over.