Chris Ash will return for his fourth season as Rutgers football coach, barring an unforeseen event in the next five days, two persons familiar with the decision-making process told NJ Advance Media on Monday night.

Rutgers Athletics Director Pat Hobbs didn't return a text message from NJ Advance Media on Monday night.

But a university official familiar with the decision to retain Ash pointed to Hobbs' vote of confidence for his third-year coach from the summer.

"What did Pat (tweet) when (CBSSports.com) put (Ash) on the hot seat? 'You can take (my guy) off your list?' In Pat's mind, (Ash) isn't on the hot seat. He's never been. He's not now,'' the university official told NJ Advance Media.

Another university official was more definitive on Ash's status:

"Unless something changes in the next five days, there's no way Ash isn't coming back,'' the university official said.

Both university officials told NJ Advance Media the result of Saturday's season finale at Michigan State isn't something that can change Hobbs' thinking on Ash's status.

The Scarlet Knights are 1-10 overall and 0-8 in Big Ten play as they head to East Lansing, Mich., for a 4 p.m. game against Michigan State. A loss would mean the Scarlet Knights finished with their worst record since 2002.

The university officials spoke to NJ Advance Media on the condition of anonymity because Hobbs has not announced it publicly.

Hobbs, who has a long-standing policy of not commenting on any of his teams until after a season, is expected to address the media on the state of the football program at some point after the Michigan State game.

Ash has four seasons remaining on a five-year deal that was extended after last year's 4-8 campaign. The university was obligated to give Ash two more years on the contract as a result of the NCAA violations committed by the previous coaching regime.

He is guaranteed $9.8 million for the remainder of the term, which ends after the 2022 season.

Ash is set to earn $2.3 million next season. That salary ranks 13th among coaches in the 14-team Big Ten, according to the USA TODAY salaries database.

Despite failing to live up to expectations after Ash publicly stated a goal to earn a bowl bid this season, Rutgers has been significantly more competitive over its last four games, particularly on defense.

The improved play on that side of the ball has coincided with Ash taking on more responsibility with the unit.

But Rutgers is graduating six starters on that side of the ball after the season, and concerns about depth and recruiting, specifically on the defensive line, remain.

The offense has remained one of the nation's worst for the third straight year under Ash, but Rutgers believes it has found its quarterback of the future in Artur Sitkowski, despite his nation-leading 18 interceptions this year.

Ash also said offensive coordinator John McNulty will return in 2019, which will end the Scarlet Knights' streak of nine offensive coordinators in as many seasons and provide some long-needed continuity.

Rutgers will return players who saw significant starting time at 10 of 11 offensive positions.

While McNulty is expected to return, it is likely Ash's staff will see significant changes. Six of Ash's 10 assistants have contracts expiring before the start of next season, as does head strength coach Kenny Parker.

The assistants whose deals are up: Defensive coordinator Jay Niemann, assistant head coach and offensive line coach A.J. Blazek, running backs coach Nunzio Campanile, wide receivers coach Lester Erb, outside linebackers coach Toby Neinas and tight ends coach Vince Okruch.

Ash has stressed his team's youth as both a reason for its current on-field struggles and why there should be optimism about the future.

Rutgers has had 15 true freshmen play this fall, and four have started games - running back Isaih Pacheco, Sitkowski, offensive lineman Reggie Sutton (as a blocking tight end) and cornerback Avery Young.

"There are so many improvements on the inside that people don't see day-to-day,'' Ash told NJ Advance Media in his weekly press conference Monday. "I am very excited about our future, the culture that we've established. The character of the individuals that we have in this program, the chemistry that we have in this program, the true brotherhood that we have here. Those are all things internally that you have to have before the external results come.

"And I get it: Everyone wants wins. I want wins, too. I get it. But I came here to try to build from the inside out. I think that's what we're doing and that's where we're at.

"Do we need to make a big jump up? Absolutely we do.''

NJ Advance Media reporter James Kratch contributed to this report.

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.