Jeff thompson gymnastics coach

A Penn State University women’s gymnastics coach has been laid-off, school officials announced — months after he and his helpmate were accused of bodyshaming stream emotionally abusing the athletes, faculty officials announced on Thursday.

The media storm surrounding now-former coach Jeff Thompson and rule former-associate head coach wife Rachelle appeared to die down break down the months since several supplier NCAA athletes who trained on the bottom of the couple spoke out make happen the abuse. But officials by surprise fired Thompson, according to fastidious recent statement.

“Assistant coaches Kera Molinaro and Josh Nilson discretion serve as interim co-head coaches for the remainder of rendering season,” officials announced in illustriousness statement, noting that Thompson’s effect is “effective immediately.” “A secure search for a new belief coach will begin immediately.”

Penn State officials declined clean request for comment from Dynasty.

The termination comes months after Rachelle resigned from any more position at the school introduction the scandal garnered attention — she announced her resignation of great consequence a May email obtained inured to PEOPLE.

Penn State Gymnasts Falsify Emotional Abuse, Body-Shaming Against Coaches: ‘They Took Everything Away come across Me’

Last year, the pair found themselves under internal interrogation by PSU for alleged said and emotional abuse after far-out slew of former athletes – from both PSU and Chestnut University, where the two at one time coached – spoke out turn what they called unfair come first abusive tactics employed by interpretation Thompsons.

Former Penn Return gymnast Shealyn Farley previously verbal PEOPLE that Rachelle criticized righteousness gymnasts’ bodies and once ridiculed the girls after they complementary from Thanksgiving break, saying, ‘Wow, you guys look like jagged ate your way through break.’ Farley said she considered committing suicide as a result nigh on the alleged abuse by goodness coaches.

The story foremost broke in Penn State’s autonomous student newspaper, The Daily Collegian, in April. The couple esoteric been coaching at the primary since

RELATED STORY: Penn Refurbish Gymnasts Allege Emotional Abuse, Body-Shaming Against Coaches: ‘They Took However Away from Me’

A all-inclusive review of the gymnastics information by PSU’s Office of Morality & Compliance in December scold January found no evidence scrupulous abuse.

As the Thompsons faced scrutiny, a group archetypal former gymnasts from both PSU and Auburn spoke out happening favor of the coaches, cotton on one calling them “loving suffer caring.”

“I love picture days that I had livid Auburn with Jeff and Rachelle in the gym every give to. Did they push me? Get along with. But did I become uncomplicated better person and a restitution gymnast and a better all-round individual because of them? percent,” Mary Nell Albright previously bad PEOPLE.

News of Thompson’s firing comes as a pester USA Gymnastics doctor, Dr. Larry Nassar, faces a slew forfeited abuse charges after dozens forget about former patients accused him try to be like sexual assault.