Pat Hobbs resigns as Rutgers athletic director due to health concerns, ending a nine-year tenure that saw significant achievements in the Big Ten. Ryan Pisarri named interim AD.
Bollywood Fever: Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs announced his resignation on Friday, citing health reasons for his decision to step down after nine years of service. The 64-year-old’s departure comes just three weeks before the Scarlet Knights’ much-anticipated football season begins. Ryan Pisarri, the deputy athletic director and chief of staff, will serve as interim athletic director.
Hobbs, who joined Rutgers in 2015 shortly after the school entered the Big Ten, revealed his decision in an email to Rutgers president Jonathan Holloway. “After meeting with my cardiac team this week and having just been apprised of the results of my latest round of testing, it is clear that I can not continue to serve as Athletic Director given the requirements of the position,” Hobbs wrote. “I recognize this is not the ideal timeframe to depart, however other factors need to take precedence.”
Holloway praised Hobbs’ contributions to Rutgers athletics in an email to university leaders, acknowledging his role in the school’s athletic success over the past nine years. “I want to thank Pat for his remarkable nine-year tenure at Rutgers, during which we have seen our men’s and women’s teams become leaders and successfully compete in the Big Ten, both on and off the field,” Holloway said.
During his time at Rutgers, Hobbs was instrumental in several key hires, including bringing Steve Pikiell to lead the men’s basketball program, which saw NCAA Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022. He also reappointed Greg Schiano as head football coach, leading to the team’s first winning record since 2014 and a victory in the Pinstripe Bowl. Additionally, Hobbs hired Coquese Washington as the women’s basketball coach in 2022, following the retirement of legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer.
Under Hobbs’ leadership, Rutgers athletics reached new heights, with nine teams appearing in national rankings during the 2021-22 season, the most in the school’s history. Significant achievements included the men’s lacrosse team advancing to its first NCAA Final Four, women’s soccer earning a No. 1 seed and a trip to the College Cup, and wrestling sending seven competitors to the NCAA championships.
Hobbs also managed several facilities projects, notably the construction of a football practice facility. However, his tenure was not without challenges, such as navigating the turbulence in the softball program following a 2019 investigation into allegations of abuse and intimidation by the coaching staff.
Reflecting on his time at Rutgers, Hobbs expressed pride in the accomplishments of the athletic programs and their continued success in the Big Ten. “My tenure as Athletic Director has been the highlight of my professional career,” Hobbs wrote. “I would have loved nothing more than to be on staff as the football team this fall attempts to make the playoffs, to see our men’s basketball program, including Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, take the basketball program to new heights this winter, and to see all of our teams continue to excel.”
Hobbs was set to earn a base salary of at least $635,000 this school year, with his compensation adjusted to the median of other Big Ten athletic directors, according to his employment contract. His resignation marks the end of a significant era for Rutgers athletics, as the program looks to build on the foundation Hobbs helped establish.
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