ALTOONA, Pa. -- Robert Morris University's controversial decision May 26 to suddenly eliminate the men's and women's hockey teams, one that's gained attention across the continent, was made without a vote of the school's Board of Trustees, multiple sources confirmed to DK Pittsburgh Sports Tuesday night.
The decision was made, per our sources, entirely by Morgan O'Brien, the board's chairman, and Chris Howard, the school president. Those two made the call unilaterally. No prior information was disseminated, and no consensus of any kind was achieved at the time or, for that matter, since. When the information was shared, it occurred over a 10-minute Zoom call in which Howard took no questions from any of participants in the session.
"It was basically done under the cover of night," one source within the athletic department told us. "It was gutless, shameless."
That approach, the sources added, was why Kevin Colbert, the Steelers' general manager, resigned over the Memorial Day weekend from his position as a member of that board, as well as his disapproval of the decision itself.
The sources added that the board wasn't made aware that any significant move regarding the hockey programs was even being considered. Neither were major business partners, notably the Penguins, who'd worked closely with the school to bring the NCAA Frozen Four to Pittsburgh just this year. It remains to be seen what action those entities, as well as donors, will take, though rumblings are mounting on multiple fronts.
Over the past weekend, our site's been besieged by complaints ranging from the campus to the corporate community and all points between, and most of the sentiment's been as angry over the execution of the decision as with the decision itself. There's also been an outpouring from across the hockey world.
Despite that, neither O'Brien nor Howard nor any school official has spoken publicly, not just to the media but to anyone involved in the hockey program seeking an explanation.
Here's the full listing of the board's members, per the school's website and, thus, everyone else omitted. It's not immediately known if anyone other than Colbert has resigned. Colbert had been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2011 and graduated from the university in 1979. He'd been passionately involved in aspects related to both academics and athletics.
According to the school's website, the board is made up of "trusted community and business leaders, including many prominent alumni, who agree to serve voluntarily in three-year terms."
While O'Brien and Howard stay out of sight, work's continuing in an attempt to save the programs. The GoFundMe account opened by Brianne McLaughlin, the two-time U.S. Olympic silver-medalist goaltender, shows $322,500 contributed. One source close to that drive attests to as much as $500,000 more being on the way imminently.
This story's developing on every front, and we recognize that this article will only magnify that. We encourage those with information to keep reaching out to us. The people in the hockey program aren't permitted to speak about this, per their contracts, so others will have to continue to communicate.
UPDATE: Add the Penguins to the list of organizations blindsided by Howard's decision to eliminate hockey as WDVE's Mike Prisuta reports.
Pens also blindsided by RMU hockey decision. Had been working with RMU on 3rd Cranberry sheet to solve facilities issue (5 architect designs/financial models studied). Hopeful funding could be raised, solution achieved. Never asked to “save” program/no idea it needed to be saved.
— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) June 1, 2021
This lines up with what men's head coach Derek Schooley said last week about discussions being had regarding a new arena around the time the Frozen Four. had been going on in Pittsburgh.
DK Pittsburgh Sports is fully committed to following this through.
Staff columnist Dejan Kovacevic contributed to this report.
