URI Tennis Coach Named In College Cheating Scandal

KINGSTON, R.I. -- A University of Rhode Island tennis coach has been named in a massive college admissions scandal involving several high-profile celebrities. Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman were indicted Tuesday in what is being called the largest college admissions scam ever.

Gordon Ernst has been the women's tennis coach at URI since August. He previously coached at Georgetown for 12 years, was a resident of Chevy Chase, MD and Falmouth, Massachusetts.

URI said in a statement Tuesday that since he was hired less than a year ago, Ernst has not had any involvement in recruiting at the university.

"The University of Rhode Island today was made aware of an indictment of head women's tennis coach Gordon Ernst related to incidents that allegedly took place while he was head coach at Georgetown University," the University of Rhode Island said in a statement Tuesday. "As a result, the University has placed Ernst on administrative leave while it continues to review the matter. Ernst was hired by URI in August 2018 as head coach. He has not been involved in the recruitment of any current players nor in the signing of any new recruits."

According to court records cited by MassLive, investigators name Ernst's $530,000 property in Falmouth and a country club membership in Maryland as assets that could be seized in the case. They will also seek a forfeiture of $2.7 million against him.

The investigation, dubbed "Operation Varsity Blues," has been called the "largest ever" admissions scandal by federal prosecutors. In total, 50 people have been named, including 33 parents, nine coaches, two SAT and ACT administrators, one proctor and one college administrator.

William "Rick" Singer, 56, of Newport Beach, California, who is accused by federal officials of being at the center of the scheme, is charged in Massachusetts with racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of justice.
Singer owns "Edge College & Career Network, LLC," also known as "The Key," a purported charitable foundation that he used as a front for laundering money to facilitate the scheme, officials said. Many of the bribes were paid through the purported charity, prosecutors said.
Singer pleaded guilty in Boston federal court Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.

READ MORE: 'Operation Varsity Blues': College Cheating Scheme Names Dozens

Patch Reporter Alex Newman contributed to this report.