WSUCougar
05-26-2004, 10:56 AM
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- University of Colorado President Betsy Hoffman plans to reinstate suspended football coach Gary Barnett, and no other changes in athletics personnel are planned, the Rocky Mountain News reported in Wednesday's editions.
The athletic department will be placed under stricter oversight by the university, the newspaper reported. The paper reported that sources close to the university, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Hoffman would likely make the announcement Thursday.
Colorado spokeswoman Michele Ames had no comment, and Barnett could not be reached for comment by the paper.
Colorado director of football operations David Hansburg told the paper he was not privy to any decision Hoffman might have made about Barnett's return.
"It wouldn't surprise me," he said. "We've said that all along."
Hoffman placed Barnett on paid administrative leave Feb. 18 after comments he made about some of the nine women who have alleged that they were sexually assaulted by Colorado football players or recruits since 1997.
One of the women was former Buffaloes kicker Katie Hnida, who said she was sexually assaulted by a teammate in 2000. While answering questions from reporters after the story appeared, Barnett said Hnida was a "terrible" player.
Earlier this month, an investigative panel appointed by the Colorado Board of Regents and a special liaison whom Hoffman named to study the school's sports programs recommended more oversight of the athletic department, which has been led by Dick Tharp since 1997.
Last week, the investigating commission concluded that sex and alcohol were used in recruiting but that there was no evidence that Colorado officials "knowingly sanctioned" them. The report criticized Barnett, Tharp, Hoffman and Chancellor Richard Byyny for lax oversight and slow reactions to recruiting problems.
Regents, though, affirmed that Hoffman's job was safe, and Hoffman expressed her confidence in Byyny. Hoffman issued no statement regarding Barnett and Tharp.
The athletic department will be placed under stricter oversight by the university, the newspaper reported. The paper reported that sources close to the university, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Hoffman would likely make the announcement Thursday.
Colorado spokeswoman Michele Ames had no comment, and Barnett could not be reached for comment by the paper.
Colorado director of football operations David Hansburg told the paper he was not privy to any decision Hoffman might have made about Barnett's return.
"It wouldn't surprise me," he said. "We've said that all along."
Hoffman placed Barnett on paid administrative leave Feb. 18 after comments he made about some of the nine women who have alleged that they were sexually assaulted by Colorado football players or recruits since 1997.
One of the women was former Buffaloes kicker Katie Hnida, who said she was sexually assaulted by a teammate in 2000. While answering questions from reporters after the story appeared, Barnett said Hnida was a "terrible" player.
Earlier this month, an investigative panel appointed by the Colorado Board of Regents and a special liaison whom Hoffman named to study the school's sports programs recommended more oversight of the athletic department, which has been led by Dick Tharp since 1997.
Last week, the investigating commission concluded that sex and alcohol were used in recruiting but that there was no evidence that Colorado officials "knowingly sanctioned" them. The report criticized Barnett, Tharp, Hoffman and Chancellor Richard Byyny for lax oversight and slow reactions to recruiting problems.
Regents, though, affirmed that Hoffman's job was safe, and Hoffman expressed her confidence in Byyny. Hoffman issued no statement regarding Barnett and Tharp.