Maryland accepts responsibility for Jordan McNair's death
The University of Maryland called a press conference on Tuesday to announce president Wallace Loh and athletic director Damon Evans met with Jordan McNair's family to apologize and share the preliminary review of the circumstances leading to the player's death.
Maryland also conducted a review of its practices and culture following McNair's passing and an ESPN report detailing the toxic environment on the football team.
As a result, the school parted ways with head of strength and conditioning Rick Court, Evans announced. Head coach DJ Durkin was placed on administrative leave Aug. 11.
"The university accepts the legal and moral responsibility for the mistakes that our training staff made on that fateful workout day on May 29, which of course led subsequently to his death," Loh said.
Loh admitted the football training staff "misdiagnosed the situation."
McNair, an offensive lineman, collapsed during a team workout on May 29 and died in hospital on June 13.
McNair reportedly showed signs of extreme exhaustion and heatstroke before his death. An attorney for the McNair family said early findings showed the football and training staff did nothing to treat the player.
The university has commissioned an external review of the full circumstances leading to McNair's death. A final report is expected by mid-September. At that point, the school promises to share the results with McNair's family before they become public.
"You entrusted Jordan in our care and he is never returning home again," Loh said.
UMD Athletic Director Damon Evans: We have taken concrete steps, and we will continue to do more. We will honor Jordan’s life and work every single day to provide the safest environment for our student-athletes. pic.twitter.com/WVcufwk36c
— Maryland Terrapins (@umterps) August 14, 2018