PISCATAWAY – As the Rutgers Scarlet Knights gear up for the opening of their 2026 football season, athletic director Keli Zinn has provided an update on the state of the athletic department, reflecting on her first year in the role. Zinn's assessment indicates significant strides have been made, although she acknowledges that further improvements are necessary.
In recent years, the Rutgers athletics department has faced challenges in keeping pace with the resource levels of its Big Ten counterparts, particularly as the landscape of college sports has evolved with the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities. Zinn noted that the department has taken proactive measures to address these issues, including forming corporate partnerships and boosting revenue streams. These efforts have allowed coaches across various sports to operate with larger budgets, essential for competing effectively in a highly competitive conference.
Despite these advancements, Zinn emphasized that Rutgers still lacks the resources required to vie for a Big Ten championship. “I would not say they have what they need to compete for a Big Ten championship,” she stated during a meeting with local reporters. “However, they do have what they need to compete much more effectively and at a higher level than what we’ve seen in the past.” She highlighted the importance of continued investment and development within the department to reach a competitive level.
The challenge for Rutgers is compounded by the fact that other programs in the Big Ten are also enhancing their financial support and NIL initiatives. This dynamic creates a constantly shifting target for Rutgers, particularly in football, where head coach Greg Schiano has been tasked with building competitive rosters without the same financial backing as many of his peers. Although some progress has been made over the past year, Zinn acknowledged that the program still has a long way to go.
“We are not in the top tier of support within the Big Ten,” Zinn remarked. “But that’s okay. We didn’t seek to be. Instead, we look at it in thirds: the top third of the league, the middle tier, and the bottom third. We’ve moved ourselves quite a bit north of the basement of that bottom third, but we aim to make further progress in the future.”
Looking ahead to the current football season, Zinn expressed her desire to see improvement from last year’s disappointing 5-7 record. However, she clarified that this expectation is not tied to specific win-loss metrics. “You’re not going to see me get in the habit of speaking publicly about specific expectations when it comes to wins and losses,” she said, aligning her vision with that of Coach Schiano, emphasizing a focus on overall improvement.
In addition to performance on the field, Zinn discussed upcoming renovations to SHI Stadium, with plans to commence upgrades within the next year. The goal is to complete these enhancements in time for the 2029 season, although she refrained from detailing specific changes pending institutional approvals. While upgrades to Jersey Mike’s Arena are also being considered, Zinn indicated that these would involve a more significant financial commitment.
As for an indoor practice facility, Zinn confirmed that there are currently no plans in place, and the existing practice bubble will remain the primary indoor training option for the time being. “What’s great about it is you don’t have deficiencies there to train and develop,” she noted, assuring that the current facility is adequate for talent development.
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