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Basketball Rutgers AD Keli Zinn announces Steve Pikiell will return as head coach in 2026-27

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RAC93

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Aug 11, 2023
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Caliknight said:
NIL
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We are still likely going to be amongst the “have nots” and not the “haves”, despite having more NIL next year. We have more money, but so will everyone else and they will have more than us. Kelli mentioned that she met the goal of NIL funding for basketball but refused to say what that number was. Is it $6 Mil, $7 Million, $8 Mil? I am sure many Power programs will have more, and many significantly more than we have next year. Plus, Pike does not instill confidence that he can thrive in this NIL age of constant roster turnover and no roster continuity from year to year while players develop and improve within the same program. I don’t have huge confidence for big things based upon Kelli saying some goal was met and Pike still being here next year.
Pike feels like a dinosaur in this NIL and analytics era of college hoops.
 
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MADHAT1

MADHAT1

Heisman
Apr 1, 2003
31,426
16,263
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Hopefully the money can be raised for the buyout and funds to hire a good one will be there if Pike doesn't maker the tourney next year
>It will be interesting to see what happens if those expectations are not met. According to the report, Pikiell’s contract through the 2030-31 season and he would be owed $16.4 million if he were fired following the 2026-27 campaign. <

https://hoopdirt.com/pikiell-safe-at-rutgers-will-return-next-season/
 
A

Anon1753438667

Sophomore
Jul 25, 2025
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Interestingly - says Pike will be retained. Unclear if that means the whole staff as well. I know the pods have speculated Some shakeup if the Pitt job opens. But wonder if this decision accompanied an expectation for new blood on the sidelines.
 
R

RUfan1977

Senior
Mar 24, 2024
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S_Janowski said:
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.
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How long a coach is expected to stay used to be an issue for recruiting. Freshman aren’t worth much anymore because they need time to get used to the college game and can’t be depended on to stay past their freshman year. Many transfers are thinking one year at a time. I don’t think it hurts recruiting that much that Pikiel is on the hot seat without any Dr. Pepper in his garage.
 
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Scarlet Shack

Heisman
Feb 3, 2004
26,264
15,929
73
bac2therac said:
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
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I 100% agree with that …the rookie mistake is using the media saying implying your coach is on the hot seat .

You made that harder for thee coach Recruit multi year pkayers …and agents representing the next cosch if pike fails will do their research on the AD and how they suport
Their coaches in the media

It’s not the end of the world …but all she should have said is …we are giving pike more suport next year and look forward to improvement

the ultimatum should be left jn private
 
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scarletrat99

Sophomore
Oct 3, 2025
115
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I'm glad and agree with Zinn to make Pikeill and staff feel uncomfortable. Maybe it leads to self-reflection and making necessary changes. There has to be some accountability. Most other B1G programs he'd been fired.
 
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PiscatawayMike

PiscatawayMike

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
17,336
15,186
113
The big question is: what will be considered enough next season for Pikiell to return for the 2027-28 season?

IMHO, it's bubble or bust. RU has to be among the teams discussed by the big dance committee in 2027.
 
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dark_check

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Mar 7, 2022
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bac2therac said:
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
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This was a great listen. I’m a big Keli fan. She’s friendly, transparent with the media, but smart and all-business at the same time. I think she’s good for our future.
 
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dark_check

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knight82 said:
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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I’m not sure she’ll cave to any old NJ pressure. The days of hoping for the jersey kids to stay home are pretty much over with NIL. It’s about finding mercenaries who fit a modern style of play, regardless of background. Kids will go where they get paid. I’m sure she’s got candidates that she feels can succeed with on a big ten/sec level, she’s not concerned about Jersey roots.
 
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dark_check

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G- RUnit said:
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.
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Define benefit of the doubt. One more year with NIL? Two? Five? Not fighting just curious of your definition.
 
D

dark_check

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G- RUnit said:
Legitimate hope, improvement and progress. No definitive timeline.
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I think you have to quantify improvement and progress otherwise it might as well be a ten year extension because some here will find hope in anything. These are just opinions and the only option that matters is Zinns. To me the benefit of a doubt he earned four years ago can’t just be open ended hope now. My wish? He makes the NCAAs next year and is still here in 27-28
 
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tru2ru1

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
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Delusional fan base who thinks that Keli will be able to raise money for NIL, revenue sharing, major RAC improvements, & buying out the Head Coach for $20 million. A fan base that complains about the cost of parking & the price of hot dogs!!!
 
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Scarlet Shack

Heisman
Feb 3, 2004
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PiscatawayMike said:
The big question is: what will be considered enough next season for Pikiell to return for the 2027-28 season?

IMHO, it's bubble or bust. RU has to be among the teams discussed by the big dance committee in 2027.
Click to expand...
That’s could be ….ar the minumum , I think it’s a winning record …with that winning record looking like it’s obvious we should break out the folllowing year and dance if we continue to retain …..
 
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B

Bob Chaewsky_rivals

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2008
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G- RUnit said:
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.
Click to expand...
The talent he inherited from EJ along with his first year's recruits was much better than the talent he has now. A small part of the total disaster you refer to was him not knowing to do with the talent, much like he doesn't know today.
 
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DHajekRC1984

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Jul 20, 2025
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Bob Chaewsky_rivals said:
The talent he inherited from EJ along with his first year's recruits was much better than the talent he has now. A small part of the total disaster you refer to was him not knowing to do with the talent, much like he doesn't know today.
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Corey Sanders alone in 1 season got him half his B1G Tourney wins over 10 seasons.

Actually he lead the team to 3 wins in 2 years and since has won only won
2 games since. In 7 years (8 minus covid).
 
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R

richthedentist

All-American
Aug 2, 2001
11,013
8,567
113
DHajekRC1984 said:
Corey Sanders alone in 1 season got him half his B1G Tourney wins over 10 seasons.

Actually he lead the team to 3 wins in 2 years and since has won only won
2 games since. In 7 years (8 minus covid).
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Guys I don’t think 17 wins is going to do it next year in my mind he has got to make the NCAA tournament or he’s not back
 
Caliknight

Caliknight

Hall of Famer
Sep 21, 2001
196,412
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RAC93 said:
We are still likely going to be amongst the “have nots” and not the “haves”, despite having more NIL next year. We have more money, but so will everyone else and they will have more than us. Kelli mentioned that she met the goal of NIL funding for basketball but refused to say what that number was. Is it $6 Mil, $7 Million, $8 Mil? I am sure many Power programs will have more, and many significantly more than we have next year. Plus, Pike does not instill confidence that he can thrive in this NIL age of constant roster turnover and no roster continuity from year to year while players develop and improve within the same program. I don’t have huge confidence for big things based upon Kelli saying some goal was met and Pike still being here next year.
Pike feels like a dinosaur in this NIL and analytics era of college hoops.
Click to expand...
Gap will be much smaller than now. We won’t teams with one guy making more than our entire roster like now
 
P

PSAL_Hoops

Heisman
Feb 18, 2008
13,232
12,553
78
Bob Chaewsky_rivals said:
Sounds like a great hire for once. Also does not sound like a ringing endorsement of Pike.
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Agreed. But based on the position she took and the intentionality of making it public (accepting an interview request from the Rant) - knight isn’t going anywhere unless he’s offered a head coaching job from Pitt and leaves on his own. Yeah sure - when pushed, she said some coach changes may be needed and that will be looked at, but from a big picture perspective - giving Knight the boot now means Pike is a lame duck coach next year and it essentially looks like she “lied”. Meaning - everything she said about giving him a “real chance” was lip service and hes actually only here for a year to ride out the buy out. Him starting over from scratch with a new head of offense and an entirely brand new roster (which would be all mid major hodge podge) has a zero percent chance of resulting in over a 500 record next year in my opinion. We won’t be the next SHU with him. It’s a long shot to begin with to pull that off, but it’s an even bigger long shot for a standing coach to successfully implement that kind of overhaul in one off season. Installing radical change is easier done with someone brand new.
 
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