Rutgers AD Keli Zinn announces Steve Pikiell will return as head coach in 2026-27
Rutgers Basketball Head Coach Steve Pikiell will return to the Scarlet Knights for his 11th season with the program.
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Basketball Rutgers AD Keli Zinn announces Steve Pikiell will return as head coach in 2026-27
- Thread starter Richie O
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Maybe a little too honest? Not exactly the ringing endorsement recruits want to hear.
Sign of the times. How many impact recruits today think they will spend >1-2 years in a program anymore?
I’m guess this means it was certainly discussed and hopefully with Pike - though he would be an idiot not to know he was in the crosshairs for some.
I’m guess this means it was certainly discussed and hopefully with Pike - though he would be an idiot not to know he was in the crosshairs for some.
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not exactly a ringing endorement all things considered...this sounds like a one year deal to prove not the 2 year deal Pike stans were proclaiming
Certainly, I’ve watched a lot of basketball, and in some cases, we came up short, but there was enough there to say, let’s make an investment in it and give him another year.”
Certainly, I’ve watched a lot of basketball, and in some cases, we came up short, but there was enough there to say, let’s make an investment in it and give him another year.”
As it should be. A poor year this year always should have made his seat very warm for next year. Nothing beyond that should have been a guarantee.
I’m okay with the comment and actually glad to hear her publicly state this.
Most kids today are on a year to year basis with whatever school they’re playing for. There’s hardly any loyalty or continuity left.
must watch...love Kellis knowlege and frankness over the NIL situation and the talk about donors and any facility upgrades...cant sell luxury upgrades for high class donors
addressing excesses around the program that is wasteful
Just delaying the inevitable for another year. Typical Rutgers MO.
As far as I;m concerned this is a do it or get out statement
Prove you deserve to stay by making the program a winner in the 2026-27 season or not be the 2027-28 RU MBB HC
>Zinn shared that Steve Pikiell will return as head coach next season during an interview with NJ.com.
“I believe he deserved that chance,” Zinn said. “Certainly, when you look at the win/loss column, it’s not where we want to be. He doesn’t want to be there, but I think they’ve got really good plans in place. I was thrilled as I’ve been able to take a closer look at it as to what they’re looking at and what they’re expecting. I do think in a number of instances, we’re pretty close.”<
www.onthebanks.com
Prove you deserve to stay by making the program a winner in the 2026-27 season or not be the 2027-28 RU MBB HC
>Zinn shared that Steve Pikiell will return as head coach next season during an interview with NJ.com.
“I believe he deserved that chance,” Zinn said. “Certainly, when you look at the win/loss column, it’s not where we want to be. He doesn’t want to be there, but I think they’ve got really good plans in place. I was thrilled as I’ve been able to take a closer look at it as to what they’re looking at and what they’re expecting. I do think in a number of instances, we’re pretty close.”<
Steve Pikiell to return as Men’s Basketball head coach next season
Athletic director Keli Zinn made this announcement during a recent interview.
www.onthebanks.com
I look on Pikiell like I did Gary Waters , a good coach but not good enough for the conference Rutgers plays in to be a top team in it.
A close but no cigar ,when it comes to making RU a regular NCAA tourney program
if Pike does like Waters did, and go to a Cleveland State type program, he will do just fine
Another year of Pikell and his static crew of lame assistants is depressing. However, I find it somewhat heartening how AD Zinn implied there will be a red hot Bunson Burner under Pike's seat next year.
tbh I'm glad she didn't fire him this year, because there would have been a lot of pressure to hire Bobby Hurley after ASU cans him. I think that would be a huge mistake and a lateral move at best
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Pike Stan here - agree with you. I think this is the right move. I am mostly tourney or bust for next season (but really, 10-11 conference wins if the conference is stacked again could buy a year 2). I just don’t want to go into home games knowing I probably wasted a trip to Piscataway and could have don’t something else down 20 after 10 mins.
I’ll always be a Pike Stan, even if we have to move on. I’m optimistic, this is the youngest, least talented team in the conference and we could still manage 6 or 7 wins.
I think that’s fair-ish. I don’t think anyone is gonna confuse him with Painter, May, Underwood, Hoiberg or Izzo. But he’s got less talent (money) than the other 12 coaches.
there is a big leap from 5-6 wins in this league to 10/11. You see how difficult is at Washington with much more money and Indiana as well this season
the reason I dont think money is going to matter for Pikes future is because RU does not exist in a vacuum. Minnesota has a better coach and will have as much money as RU next year. The only schools RU will have more money than are Northwestern and Penn State so they move up into a grouping with Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, USC for hoops money. Yet Oregon/Maryland who were terrible this year and had injuries something RU didnt have and will have more money and top recruits coming in . Who is RU leapfrogging. Schools like Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin, UCLA will all be reloading again. Its a very very narrow path for Pikes and his inability to have his team play a tough non conference schedule and to be ready to play from opening game
giving credit for being the tallest midget in the room this year is really not something that should be commented on.
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Right Political move but truly delaying the inevitable. Short term money save feels short sighted but I completely understand Zinn’s decision for politics.
Not her hire so won’t get the heat when he fails.
Announcing to the world your raising large amounts of NIL, send the right message to next years in coming hire.
Firing one coach already this offseason makes it near impossible to fire Pike as well.
Not her hire so won’t get the heat when he fails.
Announcing to the world your raising large amounts of NIL, send the right message to next years in coming hire.
Firing one coach already this offseason makes it near impossible to fire Pike as well.
Just as I stated here 3 weeks ago. He was never going anywhere. Schiano should take note. His only defense from being in the same position is his contract. Gotta credit his agent on that one. That was serious work.
Except if Waters had Ace and Dylan he wouldn’t have wasted a golden opportunity.
Agree, mostly. I think he did alright when the playing field was mostly level. I think for the near future, consistently being in the top half is a realistic expectation (5-9) - with occasional down years and occasional years where we break into the top 4. Top half should be good enough for March. And we need to stop with the early, soul sucking, wtf losses that kill the enthusiasm before we even get to conference play.
I heard that exact same thing. She sure said “he has a lot to prove next year”, so we’ll see if she holds him accountable to that. I believe she will and we’ll see how good of a year Pike has next year (hoping we are back in NCAAs), but when I come back to reality, I just don’t see that happening with Pike in this NIL era. I am assuming another year next year with similar results to the last two years and Pike is out after next year, with a big caveat on whether or not Zinn stays true to her word and holds him accountable, we’ll see. Personally, I want us back in the NCAAs, reading through bracketology talk and bacetology posts to see where RU sits next year, etc.. I miss us being at least relevant in relation to the bubble, seeding, etc.. I just don’t think it’s realistic next year.
I thought she made a rookie mistake there …..
An extra year and an extra $6 million.
no she didnt. 4 straight years without a ncaa and 3 straight losing seasons, Pikes get his chance. Every year now is a new year clean slate in college hoops. Coaches wont be judged of 3 or 4 year rebuild...if you miss out one year you are in boiling water for the next. Will Pikes catch lightning in a bottle or will it just be a slightly better season than this one
with Wenzel the excuse was let him recruit in the Big East..somewhat similar going from a red headed stepchild conference to Big East might be worth $6 million
Agreed. She also has to have credibility with a fan base and donors who are getting impatient with not having anything to care about after St. Patrick’s day. Everyone is a 1 year rental now trying to get a bag.
Buy out way too high for Pike. Part of the reason he’s not getting fired.
Although I wish Pike was fired, Zinn handled it correctly. She would have lost all credibility with a ringing endorsement. This sets her up for the inevitable after next season.
Well I set the threshold for his return at 12 wins and the public announcement of it was made after he attained exactly that many wins. Was pretty predictable.
Lots of people with short memories on this board.
Pike inherited Eddie mess.
Pike got us into the tournament 2x
Pike really got us into the tournament 3x with Covid year.
RU got hosed with a 4th tourney bid.
He deserves benefit of doubt given last in B1G funding and AD who did nothing.
Did things no RU coach did over the last 30 years. Not even close.
Pike inherited Eddie mess.
Pike got us into the tournament 2x
Pike really got us into the tournament 3x with Covid year.
RU got hosed with a 4th tourney bid.
He deserves benefit of doubt given last in B1G funding and AD who did nothing.
Did things no RU coach did over the last 30 years. Not even close.
If Pike hadn't had 3-4 straight tourney teams (I count the pandemic year and the 4th year we were in on 95% of brackets), I'd say he would've been gone already, but he earned at least some leeway, IMO, especially given how horrible our NIL situation has been vs. our competitors. He's under notice now, which is fair given the past 3 years. I don't know if it's tourney or bust, but it's at least having a winning season or bust to me. I hope he can get better talent and coach em up and succeed, as he's a good guy.