Blowing big leads at home, starting in big holes on the road and losing is not getting better. And keep blaming NIL if you want but when we get more so will all the other schools. Plus it’s what you do with what you have. Pike has little eye for talent and how are teams with no NIL like ccsu beating us if it’s only about NIL
Pikiell Gets Supportive Nod from Keli Zinn
- Thread starter Knight Shift
- Start date
As soon as I saw this, I smiled.
She said Pike is getting at least two years to turn this around. I figured that would trigger mass hysteria here.
I am half wondering if she did that deliberately to trigger the "fire the coach" crowd, though I strongly lean toward her just trying to educate people about her perspective.
For me, this makes the off-season even more interesting as I will be eager to see what Pike comes up with as the best team money can buy.
His strength may be long-term coaching the same players, and that to me will be his biggest challenge by far - keeping guys until they play the game as he wants it played. Maybe that is a reason she is seeing 2 years as necessary?
She said Pike is getting at least two years to turn this around. I figured that would trigger mass hysteria here.
I am half wondering if she did that deliberately to trigger the "fire the coach" crowd, though I strongly lean toward her just trying to educate people about her perspective.
For me, this makes the off-season even more interesting as I will be eager to see what Pike comes up with as the best team money can buy.
His strength may be long-term coaching the same players, and that to me will be his biggest challenge by far - keeping guys until they play the game as he wants it played. Maybe that is a reason she is seeing 2 years as necessary?
Good luck going 14-18 next year and bringing him back again
How about you sit down and shut up? Mulcahy arrived in April 1998, after the incident.
Sept 12, 1999 story:
"Mulcahy decided disciplinary action wasn’t necessary, but Bannon and his staff were given a review of the code of conduct and Mulcahy emphasized Rutgers will never condone “improper behavior by any of our coaches.
Mulcahy wasn’t athletic director when the free-throw contest took place. He said he heard about it shortly after his arrival, discussed it with Bannon, told him it was inappropriate and “nothing like this has transpired since.”"
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"Later he said, “This matter occurred some 20 months ago prior to my appointment as athletic director [in February, ’98]. When I heard about this shortly after coming aboard I discussed it with Kevin. I told him that it was inappropriate and I would not condone that type of behavior.
“I wanted to make sure that we were on the same page and Kevin agreed. Kevin is a proven mentor and coach whose record speaks for itself. Nothing like this has transpired since and I consider the matter closed.”"
"Geoff Billet, who was Rutgers’ captain that season, said the players seemed to enjoy stripping during the contest.
“It was fun,” said Billet, who finished his standout career after last season and is now an assistant coach at Monmouth University. “The point of the thing was to have some fun. That’s how the guys took it. As it kept going on, guys were laughing. The losers would have to do a suicide naked. We were going to play until the very end."
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Totally different set of facts, and a different person in charge and at a different time when people were less uptight. See Billet's comments.
But Mulcahy's statements are far from a ringing endorsement of Bannon.
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BANNON’S ACTIONS GET UNDER RUTGERS’ SKIN
Rutgers has not assigned a parole officer to monitor the activities of coach Kevin Bannon,but it seems clear Bannon better be on good behavior if he wants to keep his job. Events involving Bannon’s poor judgment forced athletic…
www.courant.com
BANNON’S BAD SKINS GAME; EXCLUSIVE
By the end of the contest, at least two players and two managers were naked, having missed enough shots. Attempting to expose his lighter side during a December, 1997, practice, Rutgers coach Kevin…
nypost.com
Like Keli Zinn implied in the story?
Maybe that's correct. It took Uncle Bob 2 more years to fire Bannon--using that only because you and your bro think that is relevant somehow.
He knew the story and lauded Bannon in public...factHow about you sit down and shut up? Mulcahy arrived in April 1998, after the incident.
Sept 12, 1999 story:
"Mulcahy decided disciplinary action wasn’t necessary, but Bannon and his staff were given a review of the code of conduct and Mulcahy emphasized Rutgers will never condone “improper behavior by any of our coaches.
Mulcahy wasn’t athletic director when the free-throw contest took place. He said he heard about it shortly after his arrival, discussed it with Bannon, told him it was inappropriate and “nothing like this has transpired since.”"
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"Later he said, “This matter occurred some 20 months ago prior to my appointment as athletic director [in February, ’98]. When I heard about this shortly after coming aboard I discussed it with Kevin. I told him that it was inappropriate and I would not condone that type of behavior.
“I wanted to make sure that we were on the same page and Kevin agreed. Kevin is a proven mentor and coach whose record speaks for itself. Nothing like this has transpired since and I consider the matter closed.”"
"Geoff Billet, who was Rutgers’ captain that season, said the players seemed to enjoy stripping during the contest.
“It was fun,” said Billet, who finished his standout career after last season and is now an assistant coach at Monmouth University. “The point of the thing was to have some fun. That’s how the guys took it. As it kept going on, guys were laughing. The losers would have to do a suicide naked. We were going to play until the very end."
---
-----
Totally different set of facts, and a different person in charge and at a different time when people were less uptight. See Billet's comments.
But Mulcahy's statements are far from a ringing endorsement of Bannon.
-----
BANNON’S ACTIONS GET UNDER RUTGERS’ SKIN
Rutgers has not assigned a parole officer to monitor the activities of coach Kevin Bannon,but it seems clear Bannon better be on good behavior if he wants to keep his job. Events involving Bannon’s poor judgment forced athletic…
I attended the Bannon show with other die hards..sit this one out
Kelli wont make it here if Pike us allowed to go 6 seasons without a ncaa bidLike Keli Zinn implied in the story?
Maybe that's correct. It took Uncle Bob 2 more years to fire Bannon--using that only because you and your bro think that is relevant somehow.
How about let next season play out before jumping to conclusions.
None of my statements are a "ringing endorsement" of Pikiell and a desire to keep him at Rutgers. They are a realization of the economic realities of the previous AD signing Pikiell and Schiano to long term contracts when they were not warranted and the "new" need for NIL funds. Pikiell's was a bit more "justified" than Schiano's.
It is kind of comical that both Schiano and Pikiell have been on the same downward trajectory after signing their extension, moving to losing seasons one year after each of their respective extensions.
Continue to kick and scream and stamp your feet. It will not change anything. Unless the whiners can muster up the $$$ to buy one or both of them out.
Rutgers basketball: As suitors swirl, coach Steve Pikiell getting contract extension
Pikiell is on the verge of leading the Scarlet Knights back to the NCAA Tournament
sports.yahoo.com
Rutgers gives Greg Schiano a new contract through the 2030 season
Greg Schiano, who will be taking Rutgers to its second bowl game since returning as head coach in 2020, has been given a new contract through the 2030 season.
apnews.com
No he had JMike, Ogbole, Grant , Dortch all we should pay to bring back and are “improving”. He also had a host of portal guys he missed on!
I honestly don't read that as he has two years guaranteed.
I read it as he has next year to get things back in the right direction when NIL will be less of an excuse -- and if he doesn't, then I suspect there will be a change.
I don't think he's the right man anymore, but I respect Zinn for coming out and at least telling us what she's thinking. His ridiculous contract is not her fault.
Also it's great to read her thoughts on the RAC. A big, expensive, shiny, soulless arena is just not what we need.
I think overall I'm encouraged by our AD/President -- it's just a shame the absolute disaster they inherited.
I read it as he has next year to get things back in the right direction when NIL will be less of an excuse -- and if he doesn't, then I suspect there will be a change.
I don't think he's the right man anymore, but I respect Zinn for coming out and at least telling us what she's thinking. His ridiculous contract is not her fault.
Also it's great to read her thoughts on the RAC. A big, expensive, shiny, soulless arena is just not what we need.
I think overall I'm encouraged by our AD/President -- it's just a shame the absolute disaster they inherited.
Also, one thing I'll be looking for in the offseason is if he finally makes some changes to his staff. I think that will give us a glimpse into what Zinn really thinks of him.
I am not saying Pike is perfect, just refuting all of the guys who totally despise him and claim he can't coach. I bet Pike had more top 25 wins against any previous coach combined. Think about that for a second before you totally trash him.
Stuff has to change with staff - cause a new Center, PG, SF - isn't going to make this team automatically better if it doesn't get an assistant to install a 21st century system. Now maybe that is part of the equation by her even saying 2027-28; no assistant coach is showing up thinking the HC has one year. So will see how many more times she floats 2027-28 in her future statements; And not only who gets added from a player perspective; but which assistant(s) gets moved out and importantly who gets added in.
which of the other seven coaches we have had since Tom Young did not have glaring coaching issues? My point is it's very very hard to find a perfect coach. You have to get very lucky
I don’t think pike is the right guy - really only because he is more loyal to his paid staff than he is to Rutgers basketball. If he made the necessary staff changes, that would be big in my view.
Can’t fault Zinn for giving him another year (or 2?) with the insane buyout that Hobbs hamstrung her with. The buyout plus hiring a new coach plus the NIL a new coach would want to take the job, puts her in a hard spot.
But hopefully she forces Pike to take a hard look at the staff.
Can’t fault Zinn for giving him another year (or 2?) with the insane buyout that Hobbs hamstrung her with. The buyout plus hiring a new coach plus the NIL a new coach would want to take the job, puts her in a hard spot.
But hopefully she forces Pike to take a hard look at the staff.
He’s going to be below 500 overall when this season ends after 10 years
No coach at any level anywhere gets 10 years to be sub 500 and keep their job
No coach at any level anywhere gets 10 years to be sub 500 and keep their job
If Pike had the money to keep the best players on the current roster and to bring in a legit Big 10 center, PG and a wing this could be a good team. I think that’s Kelly’s thinking. And given Pike’s past success and big buyout I think that’s a reasonable approach.
Top 25 wins don’t make ncaa tourneys. And the half of you who love Pike have to stop vilifying us that don’t feel he can win in this era. He’s done quite a bit to lose our faith in the last few years. None of us despise him or think he can’t coach at all. He’s just fell off a cliff since 21-22
Chris Collins will be below 500 by seasons end after 13 but same predictament there
Since "turning the program around" in 2019-20:
- 112-99 (60-71)
- 25-71 away from the RAC
- 2-5 in B1G tournament
- 1 NCAA tournament win
- National embarrassment last season
- Several losses to low-majors/bad mid-majors
Thats how I take this.
They're making it clear to prospective new coaches - and the entire college athletics world - that they will support our coaches with ample funding. Then it is on them to deliver.
It's a smart strategy and while it leaves us fans in limbo for a little bit longer it's the right move for the future.
I will say this with regards to basketball specifically.. .if he doesn't bring on board a much stronger offensive assistant coach it will just be a waste of money
You are a great fan but this isn't the whole story and its a bit unfair.
There have been fewer Pike Fanboys on this website than myself since he showed up. But he is screwing the pooch in terms of not evolving offensively. So while nil will definitely help us he needs to evolve. Otherwise he will not last here much longer and he shouldn't.
College basketball has evolved so must he
Extremely fair point and all coaches should get an opportunity to show and prove what they can do. It’s been over a decade and it’s time to move on. Too many missed opportunities and mistakes combined with the biggest let down in schools history
It’s criminal for him to not start at this point and he should be playing 36 minutes him not playing at the start of each half is criminal and I don’t think this BS about him coming off the bench is better is just that
Any good coach would recognize this
Very succinct breakdown. Pike is a good man who has done some good things at RU. However, he has had his time to elevate and show us more and that has not happened. If next year is another fail (hard to see how it can’t be at this point), he needs to be gone with Zinn putting her stamp on her own hire to try and row this boat in a more positive direction.
This is where you are at. This is why I hate this fanbase more each week. You are celebrating...in YEAR 10 mind you...that we are competing in the B1G and didn't lose every conference game.
Most of you deserve the complete loser programs you get to watch and it's why the nation mocks this athletic department frequently.
A lot of this board doesn't belong rooting for big time athletics. They complain about $32 parking for basketball, brag about flipping Pokemon cards in the hallways of the RAC and how they shook down a teenager with pimples at Shake Shack for their free milk shake because of 2 missed free throws. They haven't a clue as to what it takes to compete in big boy football, basketball and virtually every other sport at RU.
We are not like every other P4 school. The school is keeping Rutgers in the P4. Their poor and uninspired alumni and fans are not those ones floating it. Other P4 schools have enough big donors to cut that check. Our big donors (I **** you not) some of them are still asking for people to define what's NIL.
It’s just being the 3/4 longest tenured coach in the Big Ten and having a losing record after this season shows we have given him enough time!
Why are we the only school that operates like a Mikey mouse school?
Between Pike’s glaring faults and Greg’s Ineptitude on the field and his DC searches!
NO other power 4 school serious about Athletics, winning, and wanting to eliminate its money deficit allows them to continue to coach.
To play devils advocate this line was likely written about the SHU head coach last season.
You know I agree with you...I and many others have said the same thing for ages.
I think what makes our situation a bit unique is that our athletic programs have done nothing on the field to inspire sustained confidence. I think this is a much bigger issue than most people want to give Credence to. If you look at the head coaching hires we have made over the past 50 years they have almost all been atrocious. Our inability to hire good coaches has to be some psychology experiment down the road.
My simple point is this at some point the programs need to deliver some level of sustained success. And I am not talking about National titles. But sustained success. And sustained success does not mean sucking around average or 500.
So we have this vicious chicken and egg argument all the time.
But let me cut to the chase because no one wants to read my babble. We finally have an athletic director and a president that are fully aligned and know what the **** they are doing. If we cannot start to turn the ship around under these two I am being dead serious we should shut our entire "big time" athletics department down and go back to the Patriot league.
Well i see no Harper Baker Caleb Quasi Myles on this team
He gutted that team not keeping 9 like our fanbase wants and bought a whole new one with comparable money to rest of conference in an easier league....and they are still only a bubble team.Holloway way more of an adaptable coach than Pike. Pike increase of money will still put RU in bottom 4 of Big 10 in funding and he has a traditionally poor track record in portal.
I wonder if we are we having the same conversation if KZ was the AD before Cliff left for Alabama ?
I'm curious how many cracks we get against top 26 teams. I'd guess that he gets more at bats against top 25 teams than past coaches.