Rutgers athletic director Pat Hobbs made a sudden and stunning decision to step down as the university athletic director after nine years in the role. He cited health concerns in an internal school email as his reason for resignation. Limited details are available on the scope of Hobbs’ health issues but in an email to University President Jonathan Halloway Hobbs’ says that it was his cardiac team that gave him the bad news. Ryan Pisarri, an understudy of Hobbs, will serve as the interim athletic director.
One of the main reasons why Hobbs’ decision was so shocking was because of the position that Rutgers athletics is now in. With much credit given to Hobbs, Rutgers athletics is forecasted to have a very strong year across most departments. Football has finally started to win again and has a very favorable schedule, Basketball has two of the hottest high school prospects in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper with the team itself looking like a lock for the tournament, and wrestling and baseball look to be strong contenders yet again this year. Hobbs played a key role in bringing Rutgers athletics back to life. That the news was so shocking to Rutgers fans.
Rewinding the Hobbs era at Rutgers
When Hobbs walked into his office on the banks of the Raritan nine years ago he was inheriting a messy situation that was left for him to deal with by the two former athletic directors. The Football team wasn’t winning and needed a head coach, the Basketball team was a joke, and most other facets of the athletic department were falling apart at the seams.
In one of his first moves as AD Hobbs brought in Ohio State defensive coordinator Chris Ash to be the Knight’s new head coach. That hire unfortunately did not work out too well however Hobbs did strike gold later down the line after hiring basketball coach Steve Pikiell and rehiring Greg Schiano. Both coaches are well on their way to turning their respective programs around.
In addition to the signings made at the head coaching positions, Hobbs oversaw two drastic shifts in the college athletics landscape as NIL was introduced during his tenure and he saw the big ten plant its flag on the west coast. He also oversaw the opening of a $115 million multisport practice facility located on Busch Campus and he played a major role in landing Rutgers a significant sponsor deal with Jersey Mikes, who now owns the naming rights to Rutgers’ basketball arena.
Hobbs replacement Ryan Pissari
Pissari, the interim replacement for Hobbs, worked a job in finance until 2011 when he joined the Rutgers staff as an assistant academic coordinator. During this time he focused much of his work on the men’s and women’s basketball teams. In 2013, he was elevated to assistant director of administration and marketing. According to his Rutgers bio, Pisarri is the athletic department’s representative to Rutgers’ Board of Governors and serves a leader for the school’s athletic fundraising initiatives. He also conducted yearly evaluations for all 24 athletic programs.
Pisarri was an athlete at Ramapo High School and the University of Pennsylvania. He played wide receiver and won two state titles while at Ramapo High and two more while playing for the Quakers.
