Rutgers Athletic Director Quietly Comes Out

Julie Hermann, Rutgers University's athletic director, caused quite a stir by quietly coming out as a lesbian.

The last line in her Rutgers bio now reads, "Hermann and her partner Dr. Leslie Danehy are the proud parents of a 7-year-old son, Aidan," which was previously omitted from her biography, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

ESPN reports that Hermann is one of only three female athletic directors at the FBS level, and one of very few athletic directors in Division I college sports who are openly gay.

Hermann was previously a volleyball coach for University of Tennessee and the University of Louisville's athletic director. She told ESPN that she and her partner were "really blessed to have a wonderful family, and we're excited to become part of the Rutger's community."

Hermann was hired in May to replace Tim Pernetti, who resigned in the wake of a scandal surrounding men's basketball coach Mike Rice. It was revealed that Rice had physically abused players during practice, and while Pernetti did issue a punishment against Rice, an ESPN documentary about Rice's behavior led to Rice being fired, and Pernetti's resignation.

Former players at the University of Tennessee claim that they were also physically abused by Hermann, who has denied the allegations.

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