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Keith/Matt – Here are written responses to your questions. We will have no further comment due to potential litigation.

Questions for Kristen Butler:

We spoke to several former Rutgers parents and players who alleged your conditioning sessions were more intense than
typical hard workouts asked of Division 1 athletes. Players said they vomited, collapsed or cried regularly during
workouts and conditioning sessions, and some of them claimed the sessions were abusive. Is this an accurate
characterization of the events? How would you respond to these allegations?

No, this not an accurate characterization of our conditioning program. The well-being of our student-athletes is and will
always be our priority. Competing at a Big Ten level requires a commitment to conditioning. The results speak for
themselves. Last year we finished sixth in the Big Ten, our best finish ever. We also earned our first postseason
tournament invitation since 1994. The department reviewed these allegations in consultation with sports health
professionals. The workouts were aligned with those that I participated in myself as a student-athlete and those that I
have conducted with my prior Division I programs. Workouts were more intense than the team’s previous experience,
but well in line with Division I standards. A member of the strength and conditioning or athletic training staff is present
at all conditioning exercises.

At least two scholarship players, including Myah Moy, alleged that you attempted to revoke their scholarships without
cause. Is this an accurate characterization of the events? How would you respond to these allegations?

Federal law prohibits commenting about a specific student-athlete without their permission. The characterization put
forth, however, is inaccurate. I cannot independently revoke a student-athlete’s scholarship. There are protocols in
place that I followed. Scholarships may be reevaluated for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, when
student-athletes engage in serious misconduct that warrants penalties from Rutgers such as violations of the Rutgers
University’s Code of Student Conduct, the policies and procedures of the Rutgers University DIA, Team Rules, NCAA or
Big Ten Conference rules.

Several players, including Erin Collins, described a March 12 workout in which the team was forced to run sprints
because they went $6 over its budgeted meal money during a weekend road trip. During this session, Erin Collins said
she fell unconscious from the workout. Is this an accurate characterization of the events? How would you respond to
these allegations?

Conditioning drills are conducted as part of our regularly scheduled practice and not as a punitive response to student-
athlete behavior. It is not unusual to address violations of team rules during practice. Violations of team rules do not
result in added conditioning. Our focus is always on attitude and effort. Federal law prohibits us from commenting about
a student-athlete’s health matters without their permission. However, at that practice the team’s athletic trainer was on
site and would have addressed all matters consistent with the department’s medical protocols.

Players said they often were punished for minor transgressions with conditioning drills. Is this an accurate
characterization of the events? How would you respond to these allegations?

See response to above question.

Ten players left the team from October 2018 through July 2019 and it marked the most turnover of any Rutgers program
last year. Why was there was so much turnover the past year?

Turnover is typical during a coaching transition. During the time period mentioned, some student-athletes made the
decision to transfer, some walk-ons were not retained, some graduated and some moved on for other reasons. The
advent of the NCAA transfer portal also contributed to movement, both here at Rutgers and across the collegiate
landscape. My understanding is that there were several programs at Rutgers that had greater turnover during this
period.

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Players cited two drills they felt put their health in jeopardy. One was a drill in which they were told to stand their
ground at the plate and be intentionally hit by pitches thrown by assistant coach Brandon Duncan. Another was a time,
players alleged you hit rapid-fire ground balls at an infield player, striking the player with the ball and leaving her
bloodied from diving. Is this an accurate characterization of the events? How would you respond to these allegations?

Allegations that student-athletes were intentionally hit by softballs are categorically false. At times during batting
practice, student-athletes are unintendedly hit by a pitch, just as they are in games. Ground ball drills are part of infield
skills development. No drill is intended to cause injury.

Your husband and former volunteer coach, Marcus Smith, was accused by several players of making repeated
inappropriate comments throughout the season. One such comment included him saying “it smelled like period blood’’
on the team bus. Players also accused Marcus Smith of scrolling through their phones after they were confiscated. Is this
an accurate characterization of the events? How would you respond to these allegations?

This allegation was not made known to me at the time. My husband vehemently denies the allegation. At the end of the
season, we made a family decision that Marcus would no longer serve as volunteer coach. Due to the time demands on
me as a Division I coach, we needed Marcus to devote his time to our son and daughter. Consistent with a practice used
by teams across the country, certain team activities required the collection of cell phones to ensure the team was
appropriately focused. No student-athlete’s privacy was violated.

Questions for Pat Hobbs and Sarah Baumgartner:

Attorney Martin Greenberg said he sent a legal notice of complaints against the Rutgers softball program and coaches to
your office on July 16. Did you receive the notice? And what were your thoughts on its contents?

The notice was received and forwarded to the office of general counsel. We do not comment on potential litigation.

Was their investigation following the legal notice? What were the results of the investigation?

As a matter of policy, we do not comment on potential litigation.

Did you or anyone else from the school vet Marcus Smith before he got to Rutgers? If so, what was the result of the
vetting process? If not, why was a vetting process not committed?

All coaches, volunteer or otherwise, undergo a background check.

Were you aware that Marcus Smith was investigated at his previous coaching stop at Owens Community College in
Ohio?

Yes. It is public knowledge the investigation cleared Coach Smith and he was later honored as conference coach of the
year. (link: https://owensoutcomm.com/5459/sports/owens-pr-manager-talks-owens-athletics-smith-reinstated/)

Our understanding is the school investigated Erin Collins’ and other players’ initial complaints and concerns. What were
the findings of your internal investigation?

As a matter of policy, we do not comment on potential litigation.

Several players and parents have claimed that you, as the athletic director, did nothing to remedy the abuse allegations.
Is this an accurate characterization of the events? How would you respond to these allegations?

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Throughout my entire professional life, I have immediately addressed any claim of abusive behavior, discrimination or
inappropriate conduct by an employee or anyone else. I do not tolerate abusive behavior and Rutgers University does
not tolerate abusive behavior. Rutgers University is a national leader in how such claims are addressed.

Players and parents say that Rutgers does not care about alleged abuse in its sports programs. They cite the Mike Rice
scandal, the Petra Martin firing and this current situation. Is this an accurate characterization of the events? How would
you respond to these allegations?

Answered above

Brandon Duncan was mentioned as the coach who contributed to the abuse in the softball program. Is he still with the
program.

Brandon Duncan remains a pitching coach in our softball program.

Players have said Kristen Butler revoked their scholarships in violation of the Big Ten legislation. Is this an accurate
characterization of the events? How would you respond to these allegations?

A coach cannot independently revoke a student-athlete’s scholarship. The initial revocation must be approved by the
office of compliance and the sport administrator. If approved, the university office of financial aid will send notification
to the student-athlete with directions on how to file an appeal. All appeals are heard by an independent review
committee chaired by a faculty member. No member of this committee is in the department of athletics.

Why is Myah Moy not allowed to use Rutgers Athletics’ rehab services when she is still on scholarship, and she needs
rehab for an injury that occurred on the softball field last spring?

Federal law prohibits commenting about a specific student-athlete without their permission. Our practice in athletics is
to fund external rehabilitation services for student-athletes who are injured while participating in their sport, but who
are no longer on a team roster.

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