Rutgers athletic director Pat Hobbs suddenly resigned Friday afternoon, ending the tenure of the longest-serving athletic director within the Big Ten.
Hobbs will be replaced on an interim basis by assistant athletic director Ryan Pisarri while the school begins a search for a permanent replacement.
Hobbs' resignation note, which was distributed internally at Rutgers, referred to his health and a recent meeting with his “heart team.”
“After meeting with my cardiology team this week and receiving the results of my latest round of testing, it is clear that I am unable to continue serving as athletic director due to the requirements of the position,” Hobbs wrote in an email to school President Jonathan Holloway. “I recognize that this is not the ideal time to depart, however, other factors must take priority.”
Hobbs was under contract until 2028.
“I want to thank Pat for his extraordinary nine-year tenure at Rutgers, during which we have seen our men’s and women’s teams become leaders and successfully compete in the Big Ten both on and off the field of play,” Holloway said in a message to university leaders. “I have asked Ryan Pisarri, deputy athletic director and chief of staff, to serve as interim director of Intercollegiate Athletics. The search for a new permanent athletic director will begin as soon as possible.”
Hobbs has been Rutgers’ athletic director since 2015, and his tenure has been highlighted by the hiring of Steve Pikiell in basketball and the return of Greg Schiano as football coach. Those hires helped Rutgers break out of the Big Ten doldrums, as Pikiell has led the Scarlet Knights to a pair of trips to the NCAA tournament and Schiano led Rutgers to its first winning season last year since 2014.
Hobbs overcame a rocky start at the school, which included the difficult tenure of football coach Chris Ash, who was hired by Hobbs and went 8-32. Hobbs is the former dean of Seton Hall Law School and has experience as a tax attorney. Pisarri is in his 14th season at Rutgers.
In an internal note from Hobbs to staff, he said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to work with you. I look forward to enjoying all your success this season and in the years to come.”
