89 LX new starter fries when i turn key!

I have an 89 LX 2.3 standard. The starter went out a week ago. I teach at a high school, and the auto teacher push started it and I drove it to the high school auto shop.
He replaced the starter, which was shorted out. He replaced the starter relay, too.
With both items replaced, he turned the ignition and the new starter fried and is now shorted out!
From the relay terminal that goes to the starter, there is an open circuit to the negative on the battery when key is not turned and a closed circuit when the key is turned. (If I have it all straight.) From the terminal that all the other wires are connected to on the relay, there is a closed circuit at all times no matter what.
I don't know enough to sort this out, and he can't imagine why the new starter would fry like that. How could this happen?
Isn't the starter made to handle lots of juice? How could power from the battery through a new relay fry out the starter?
It will run when push started.
What is it, dwellers of mustang land, is it that I do not know?
Please help. I rode my bike five miles through mountain hills to work this morning and almost puked. (Too darn soon after breakfast.)

Jacob Borshard
928-338-1462

Test the relay, it could be defect. Otherwise you need to trace all other wires and be sure nothing has crossed and therefore bypassed the relay.