Florida AD Stricklin says 'we failed' by keeping Newbauer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin took responsibility Tuesday for former women's basketball coach Cam Newbauer's toxic environment that included verbal abuse toward players, assistants and staff members.

Stricklin met with four media members and provided some details and a rough timeline of what transpired during Newbauer's tenure, how the University Athletic Association responded, and why he gave a coach with so many red flags a three-year contract extension in February.

“We, as a department, have a responsibility to provide our student-athletes leadership for their particular programs, their sports,” Stricklin said. "They’re going to provide them the best atmosphere possible, and we failed in this situation. And ultimately that’s my responsibility for the culture of this department.

"I’ll take responsibility for that. It's incumbent upon us going forward to make sure — not just in women’s basketball but in all our sports — we have the right leadership, creating the right culture in those sports.”

Newbauer resigned in mid-July for “personal reasons." The Independent Florida Alligator, a student-run paper that’s not affiliated with the university, spoke to several former players and some of their parents before detailing the alleged abuse Monday. Those players said Newbauer made racist remarks, threw basketballs at them and belittled everyone around him.

“In Cam’s first year and a half, two years, we had some reported behavior that was a little concerning from a cultural standpoint," Stricklin said. “Anytime you have a coaching transition, it’s not unusual for there to be some kids who aren’t happy with the direction. Early on, it was trying to figure out what are we looking at here."

Stricklin responded by “putting a lot more...