In what earlier looked like a coach resigning because of poor play on the field took an odd turn Wednesday.
Florida Atlantic coach Carl Pelini and defensive coordinator Pete Retstis resigned Wednesday after FAU athletic director Patrick Chun confronted them about reports the two had attended a social event where illegal drugs were being used. They admitted using illegal drugs to university officials and both tendered their resignations after Chun confronted them.
"On Monday, I was made aware of these concerns and I immediately reported the allegations to our General Counsel," Chun said at a news conference Wednesday. "The University acted quickly and decisively to follow up and take action that is in the best interests of our student-athletes and the University overall. I can assure you that we have no information that suggests anyone other than these two individuals engaged in these activities."
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Pelini and Rekstis were taken from the football offices today by police, but no arrests were made. An investigation is ongoing and neither coach is facing charges as of now, Chun said. Chun also said no other coaches or student-athletes were involved.
"I apologize for exercising poor judgement," Pelini said in a statement. "My greatest concerns at this time are for me family, the dedicated FAU players and my staff. I am confident that Pat Chun and the University administration will continue to move the program forward.”
Chun said he told the players the news shortly before the announcement Wednesday and the reaction was "shock, dismay and disbelief."
"We hold ourselves to a standard here," Chun said. "That behavior is unacceptable for a lot of reasons. Like I told our student-athletes today, we all have responsibilities. When you wear the logo of Florida Atlantic University, you wear it 24 hours a day. ... We hold you to a higher standard and you have to hold yourself to that standard. Decisions were made that ultimately hurt some people, and there's consequences for those decisions."
Offensive coordinator Brian Wright will take over the team, according to Chun. This is Wright's second season at FAU after joining Pelini's staff in 2012 after three years as offensive coordinator at Montana State.
Linebackers coach Jovan DeWitt steps in as defensive coordinator. He also joined the FAU staff prior to the 2012 season.
Pelini went 3-9 last season and the Owls are 2-6 this season after last week’s 45-10 loss at Auburn. The Owls are 1-4 in Conference USA. They play Tulane at home Saturday.
According to Pelini's contract, in the event he terminated his employment at FAU without cause in his second year, he would pay the university $500,000 — roughly the amount he was making in salary this season. If the school had fired him for cause, Pelini would have not faced any potential repayment of salary. And according to his contract, the school would have had grounds to fire Pelini if he used "any narcotics, drugs, or other controlled substances."
The Associated Press contributed to this report