Rutgers AD May Have Spoken With Man Pretending to Be Player's Father

Rutgers University Athletic Director Julie Hermann may have spoken with an impostor claiming to be the father of a former football player who accused a Scarlet Knights coach of bullying, nj.com reports.

Hermann came to this conclusion following a meeting with Jevon Tyree’s parents on Wednesday, according to the report.

Tyree, of South Brunswick, has accused defensive coordinator Dave Cohen of getting in Tyree's face during a study hall session in the spring, and using profane language and threatening to headbutt him. He’s also claimed he was excluded from team meetings, and was unfairly benched in favor of another player, according to the report.

Hermann claimed to have spoken with Tyree’s parents after Tyree made his initial claims in April, but this week, his parents denied ever speaking to her.

When Hermann met with Mark and Clarice Tyree on Wednesday, the sides walked away feeling the other side was telling the truth: Hermann acknowledged she may not have spoken with Mark Tyree, while Tyree believes Hermann may have spoken on the phone with a person impersonating the player’s father, according to the report.

Hermann met with Tyree’s parents at Soaries' First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Franklin Township, according to the report. Rev. DeForest "Buster" Soaries Jr. oversaw the meeting and told nj.com it was “cordial and conciliatory and passionate.”

Hermann acknowledged she should have done more, although there were no apologies on either side, according to the report. Rutgers will further assess the incident.

When he played at South Brunswick, MaxPreps.com’s Tom Lemmings labeled Tyree as “active, tough and aggressive.”

Tyree officially left the team on Nov. 6, but remains enrolled in classes at Rutgers, according to nj.com.

The Scarlet Knights (5-4, 2-3) play at Central Florida (8-1, 5-0) Thursday night in a game that will be nationally televised on ESPN, 7:30.