The University of Michigan will pay $15,000 to Rhonda Faehn, the former USA Gymnastics official fired by the school on Sunday, for the four days she spent in the university's employ.
Faehn, believed to be the first person approached about alleged abuse perpetrated by then-USA Gymnastics team physician Larry Nassar, was ousted as head of the USA Gymnastics women's program in May, a week after Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman called her to step down. Raisman claimed Faehn delayed taking action against Nassar despite reports of his abuse, including Raisman's own personal accounts.
Michigan signed Faehn to a $15,000-per-month coaching contract last Thursday, prompting many Nassar survivors to complain on social media. Faehn was with the Michigan team at a meet Friday, but by Saturday the public outcry had reached a tipping point. On Sunday, athletic director Warde Manuel terminated the contract.
"I have come to the conclusion that it is not in the best interest of the University of Michigan and our athletic program to continue the consulting contract with Rhonda Faehn," Manuel stated in a news release issued at 9 p.m. Sunday. "It was the wrong decision, and I apologize. Our student-athletes are our highest priority and I want to do everything in my power to support them fully and put the focus back on their athletic performance."
Faehn's Michigan contract contained a clause determining that the university could let her go at any time, but would have to give her one month's notice. In essence, that means the university will pay her one month's salary, athletic department spokesperson Kurt Svoboda told the Detroit Free Press. The university would also pay expenses for her., though it's unclear how much that would have cost.
