Rice used gay slurs, threw basketballs at Robert Morris says former player

It would be foolish to think that Mike Rice's sadistic behavior was under control until he took over the coaching reins at Rutgers University. And it doesn't take a psychiatrist to figure out that the basketball coach's foul temper probably reared its angry head long before he got to Piscataway.

Now, according to The Associated Press, a former Robert Morris player has told school officials former coach Mike Rice used a homophobic slur and threw a basketball at a player "once or twice" during his time at the university.

Rice was fired by Rutgers last week after video of the coach verbally and physically abusing players became public. A former Rutgers staff member alleged Rice engaged in several "coaches versus players" brawls while coaching the Colonials from 2007-10.

Robert Morris athletic director Craig Coleman says an internal investigation uncovered no evidence of the alleged fights. Coleman says one player, who left the program while Rice was in charge, told officials Rice directed a gay slur at him and got into a shoving match with another player during halftime of a game. The other player denied having improper contact with Rice.