University of Maryland President Wallace Loh and athletic director Damon Evans revealed preliminary findings regarding the death of student football player Jordan McNair at a press conference Tuesday.
Evans said early stages of an internal investigation showed that McNair did not receive appropriate medical attention. Evidence shows training staff failed to follow an emergency response plan, take McNair’s temperature, and apply any kind of cold water immersion treatments after McNair began showing signs of exhaustion.
Evans got emotional during the press conference when referring to McNair’s family.
“As a father, there are no words to say to Jordan’s parents that are good enough. I have looked into the eyes of a grieving mother and father, and there is simply nothing good enough. We will honor Jordan’s life, and we will ensure that a tragedy such as this never happens on our campus again,” Evans said.
McNair, a redshirt offensive lineman, collapsed at the university’s first organized football workout of the summer on May 29. He was taken to the Washington Adventist Hospital, where he was later transferred to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Md. McNair died 15 days later.
Evans announced Tuesday that UMD has decided to part ways with football strength and conditioning coach Rick Court. Evans’s announcement comes after head coach DJ Durkin was placed on administrative leave, along with two other athletic training personnel.
The university is currently investigating the death of McNair, along with allegations of abusive and authoritative culture that led up to his death.
