Indicted University of Rhode Island Tennis Coach Resigns

KINGSTON, R.I. — Indicted University of Rhode Island women's tennis coach Gordon Ernst will be stepping down, the school said over the weekend. Ernst was implicated in the national college admissions cheating scandal nicknamed "Operation Varisty Blues." URI announced the resignation on Saturday.

Ernst told URI officials he would be stepping down on Friday afternoon, the Associated Press reported. He has been on administrative leave from the university since the scandal broke.

According to the Associated Press, Ernst is accused of accepting more than $2.7 million for designating 12 applicants as athletic recruits during his time at Georgetown University, where he served as tennis coach.

Following Ernst's indictment, URI released a statement saying that he had only worked for the university since August 2018 and had not had any influence on or involvement with recruitment or admissions.

On March 14, a second statement from university officials said that Ernst had passed a criminal background check prior to his hiring.

READ MORE:

• URI: Indicted Tennis Coach Passed Background Check
• URI Tennis Coach Named In College Cheating Scandal
• 'Operation Varsity Blues': College Cheating Scheme Names Dozens