Frederick M. Azar, MD, chief of staff at Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics, has been selected to serve on the commission that will investigate the culture of the football program at the University of Maryland following the death of a football player during the opening weeks of fall practice.
The University System of Maryland Board of Regents announced the appointment of Azar and four other additional members to a commission created to investigate the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair and "the culture of the football program" at Maryland.
McNair suffered heatstroke during a May 29 workout. Head coach DJ Durkin was placed on paid administrative leave on Aug. 11 after an ESPN report detailed allegations of a toxic culture within the football program that was based on fear and intimidation.
The new appointees will join three previously named members: retired U.S. District Court judges Ben Legg and Alex Williams, and former federal prosecutor Charlie Scheeler.
In addition to Dr. Azar, a sports medicine doctor who also serves as professor and director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship program in the University of Tennessee-Campbell Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, the new appointees include:
Bonnie Bernstein, founder of Walk Swiftly Productions; sports journalist at ESPN, ABC and CBS for nearly 20 years; and alumna of the University of Maryland, College Park, where she was an Academic All-American gymnast.
Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., former Maryland governor and former captain of the Princeton University football team.
Thomas McMillen, former United States Congressman; current president and CEO of the LEAD1 Association (which represents the athletic directors and programs of the Football Bowl Subdivision); former co-chair of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition; former member of the USM board of regents; and alumnus of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he was an All-American and Academic All-American basketball player.
Doug Williams, Washington Redskins senior vice president of player personnel; Super Bowl-winning quarterback; and former head football coach at Morehouse College and Grambling State University.
