Report: Rutgers AD Pat Hobbs abruptly resigns, Ryan Pisarri exected to serve as interm AD
Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs has resigned from his post in a surprising turn of events, and Ryan Pisarri is expected to serve as the Scarlet Knights’ interim athletic director, per Pete Thamel of ESPN.
Hobbs has been the school’s athletic director since Nov. 2015. He’s helped with the program’s transition into the Big Ten, which has seen it’s fair share of bumps in the road throughout the last decade, but the future is looking bright.
“Source: Rutgers AD Pat Hobbs has resigned from his job and Ryan Pisarri is expected to serve as the interim athletic director,” Thamel posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Moreover, Hobbs announced his decision to the athletic department in an email, which was obtained by Brian Fonseca of NJ Advance Media.
“Earlier this morning, I shared with (Rutgers University President) Jonathan (Holloway) that I am departing my position as Athletic Director at Rutgers University,” Hobbs wrote. “I truly believe we are writing the greatest chapter in Rutgers history and I am confident that you will continue to do so.
“It has been an honor and a priviege to serve with you. I look forward to enjoying all your success this season and in the years ahead.”
On the football field, Hobbs didn’t start his tenure off with a bang, as Rutgers’ hire of Chris Ash couldn’t have gone more disastrous. However, the return of Greg Schiano has restored some faith, with ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit going as far as to call them a dark-horse College Football Playoff contender in 2024.
“It’s weird, you think about the Big Ten, obviously, what is there now, 18 teams? You go down your list, a lot of it comes down to the schedule,” Herbstreit said, via The Pat McAfee Show. “Someone is going to come out of that conference that you really didn’t expect, whether that’s an Iowa, whether that’s a — who knows with (five-star freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola) at Nebraska. Whoever has the most manageable schedule.
“Rutgers has a schedule that’s, by Big Ten standards and this Big Ten world that we’re in, they can make a little bit of a run.”
Elsewhere, Hobbs’ hire of Steve Pikiell for the Scarlet Knights’ men’s basketball program has completely turned things around, and after having one of the top recruiting classes in the country this past year, Rutgers seems primed to make a run in March.
While they’re doing so, Pat Hobbs will be watching and cheering them on from the sidelines, as his tenure falls just short of a decade with the university, after he surprising announced his resignation on Friday.