New Pike Contract?

[ScooterSports]

Is Rutgers about to hand a lifetime contract to basketball miracle worker Steve Pikiell?

Rutgers is working on an extension for head men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell.

www.nj.com

“The University’s Board of Governors has scheduled a special virtual meeting for 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023, to “act on a contract amendment for basketball coach.”

The numbers are not immediately available, but considering Pikiell’s age (56) and the length of his current deal (through 2029-30), the aim is likely to keep Pikiell in Piscataway for the rest of his head coaching career.”

 

[in22]

Must mean some programs were sniffing around. I would have thought the current contract was long enough. Maybe some big time schools

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Must mean some programs were sniffing around. I would have thought the current contract was long enough. Maybe some big time schools

OR….we’re just smart enough to get AHEAD of all that for once?

 

[Zak57]

Phenomenal news!!

 

[mildone]

OR….we’re just smart enough to get AHEAD of all that for once?

If we're really smart, then we're timing such contract stuff perfectly, neither ahead nor behind the actual need to get it done.

 

[KingOfTheEast]

Wonder if this has anything to do with the help of Dylan recruitment as well?

 

[AreYouNUTS]

If we're really smart, then we're timing such contract stuff perfectly, neither ahead nor behind the actual need to get it done.

Exactly. Very well could be a donor stepped up and said “let’s do this NOW.”

 

[RUHouston]

It didn't come out and say explicitly but the headline might be click bait...but, there could be smoke here...

NJ.com article

 

[mildone]

Exactly. Very well could be a donor stepped up and said “let’s do this NOW.”

And you were right as well in that, in the past, it always seemed like our AD was either too late or too early with this stuff. Maybe Hobbs is building experience and getting good at the timing aspect. If so, it'd be a great sign for the future of RU athletics.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Must mean some programs were sniffing around. I would have thought the current contract was long enough. Maybe some big time schools

ND

 

[Plum Street]

Give him more money and make the buy out more .

 

[ancienthooper]

I don't know. I'm a little concerned about the low ceiling. Or high roof. Or low basement. Or all of the above.

 

[Rhuarc]

I'm assuming that a lifetime contract is one that is a set number of years and continually extends after each season so the contract never ends? I really have no idea what this means, lol.

 

[RUDave_01]

He's a first class coach and person... I hope we can lock him up for the next 15 yearsm

 

[mikeyo]

If we're really smart, then we're timing such contract stuff perfectly, neither ahead nor behind the actual need to get it done.

Word gets around. Kids like playing for him

 

[bigmatt718]

ND

If that's the case then Iowa better pony up as well. I could see ND going after Coach Fran as his wife played at ND and his style of play and players he brings to Iowa would be a fit for the Irish.

 

[Roy_Faulker]

Needs to also have money for assistant coaches. Pike still hasn’t replaced a Hobbs or Knight - hope the mojo can be maintained if one of those key pieces leaves.

 

[AshCatchEm]

Lock it up

 

[BigRnj]

Wait a year, we can get Willard cheap. 🤮😉

From where I sit I’m hoping Pike is associated with Rutgers until he retires. I welcome this news and I hope it has a positive impact on recruiting and retaining talent!

 

[Knight Shift]

Exactly. Very well could be a donor stepped up and said “let’s do this NOW.”

Yup. Probably kyk. 😀

 

[BigRnj]

Yup. Probably kyk. 😀

with Cali’s in-laws matching kyk’s $10K with $1K for every dollar he actually pays… for a cool $10M 😉

 

[RUPete]

I don't know. I'm a little concerned about the low ceiling. Or high roof. Or low basement. Or all of the above.

What about the drooping awning?

 

[bethlehemfan]

This is just great news.

 

[Bayonnebomber79]

If that's the case then Iowa better pony up as well. I could see ND going after Coach Fran as his wife played at ND and his style of play and players he brings to Iowa would be a fit for the Irish.

I don’t hate that

 

[NickRU714]

#FakeNews
Everyone knows the entire Rutgers leadership is busy working out the contract extension for HC Schiano.

No time to waste on an extension for a coach who has actually earned it.

 

[Antnee79]

Kinda surprised in light of his 4 year extension he signed last March that locked him up through ‘29-‘30. That said, hopefully the further extension will come with a huge buyout to discourage poachers.

 

[Plum Street]

Don’t extend years by muc. Be careful with lifetime contracts…like marriage

 

[Pils86]

I like Pike and what he has done but I would prefer to see a Final Four appearance before RU gives a lifetime massive contract. Maybe it is what has to be done to keep him but the arms race is getting old.

 

[rubigtimenow]

This surprised me 0%. Already had a huge buyout, hopefully they make it even more. Also, pay the man!
We’re in line for our highest seed ever in the tourney and recruiting has picked up.
Thank you coach Pike for making Rutgers great again. For years I heard about the 76 squad and thought… I can’t believe we were actually ever that good. Must have been nice.
We’re not there yet but this already has been an amazing ride, thanks!

 

[RUBlackout]

I like Pike and what he has done but I would prefer to see a Final Four appearance before RU gives a lifetime massive contract. Maybe it is what has to be done to keep him but the arms race is getting old.

Sorry not sorry....
Pike has done wonders for this program on and off the court!! He gained the respect of College basketball back with this program and I never want to look in the rear view mirror again. Nothing short of a miracle worker and it that means locking him up as our coach for as long as can be than I am all for it. he is our coach K to this program from the day he got here

 

[Scangg]

Pike leaves when he retires and then the statue gets built

 

[colbert17]

Let's win a few Tournament games before we start planning statues

 

[bigmatt718]

I don’t hate that

Agreed. Get him out of the B1G as Iowa is the team we match up the worst against.

 

[wheezer]

Let's win a few Tournament games before we start planning statues

We probably have three 5 star recruits signing on
When had that ever happened for us before?
The future is very bright so you do it
and don’t look back

 

[colbert17]

We probably have three 5 star recruits signing on
When had that ever happened for us before?
The future is very bright so you do it
and don’t look back

I have no problem with the contract. It's the statue talk....

 

[wheezer]

I have no problem with the contract. It's the statue talk....

I think any fan talking statues would understand that we would need championships and a fairly long record of high level success

 

[MadRU]

 

[wheezer]

I like Pike and what he has done but I would prefer to see a Final Four appearance before RU gives a lifetime massive contract. Maybe it is what has to be done to keep him but the arms race is getting old.

disagree slightly, assuming the recruiting goes like it is.

 

[Plum Street]

Pike leaves when he retires and then the statue gets built

What do you think he will accomplish ?

 

[Plum Street]

Let's win a few Tournament games before we start planning statues

This