Ryan Dunleavy

Staff writer

PISCATAWAY – Rutgers didn’t even have to leave campus to land three big fish donors for the all-important facilities fund.

Athletics director Pat Hobbs, football coach Chris Ash and men’s basketball coach Eddie Jordan each are pledging $50,000 of their pay back to the school earmarked for athletic facilities, the school announced Wednesday with a video posted to social media.

Rutgers also introduced the "R Big Ten Build," a targeted campaign to raise $100 million for new or expanded athletic abilities.

With Gov. Chris Christie showing state support for Rutgers by signing into law Tuesday a bill allotting $25 million in tax credits for athletics facilities, the momentum continued with the unique idea of having Hobbs, Ash and Jordan kept the momentum going.

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"For us to be competitive in the Big Ten, we must upgrade our facilities," Hobbs said in a statement. "It has been 22 years since Rutgers athletics constructed a new building.

"Meanwhile, our Big Ten peers have been building a state of the art facilities that help them recruit and enable their student-athletes to achieve peak performance. Yesterday, we heard from our legislature and our Governor. The State of New Jersey is in. Now we have to be all in. Let's build this."

Hobbs, who signed a five-year contract with a $560,000 annual base, up to $50,000 in annual bonuses and rolling extensions, has made fundraising his top priority since hiring Ash on Dec. 7.

Ash and Jordan, like all major college football and men’s basketball coaches, are asked to do their share of selling on the fundraising trail through making public appearances, allowing donor access to the program and most matter-of-factly by winning games.

Ash signed a five-year contract worth at least $11 million, with a starting annual salary of $2 million.

Jordan is earning $1.15 million before bonuses this season, the third on his five-year contract.

The Rutgers graduate is set for a big raise in April and a retention bonus in June, though he could be on the hot seat as the men’s basketball team continues to stumble toward a likely ugly finish.

All head coaches and senior administrators made some level of donation, according to the school.



“There is a positive buzz around Rutgers athletics right now,” Hobbs told Gannett New Jersey on Tuesday. “People want to help. People have said they are going to help.

“I'm expecting in the very near future we will be able to start talking about the amount of funds pledged and the commitment that's been made.”

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The first phase of the R Big Ten Build was created in collaboration with Rutgers Physical Master Plan and includes three projects: the multi-purpose arena that doubles as a basketball practice gym, a lacrosse and soccer training complex, and a football training complex/expansion of the Hale Center.

It is not known how much women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer, whose $1.15 million salary this season matches that of Jordan, donated.

Stringer collected $1.6 million from the university in 2014, when her salary was in the six figures but she also collected $676,000 in deferred compensation from a previous contract.

The Hall of Famer has been at Rutgers since 1995, through five football coaches and six men’s basketball coaches. She was applauded by the fan base last spring for being an outspoken critic of the facilities and the need for action “from the top down,” including the state government.

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For perspective, a $50,000 donation for the most recent year – or a $1 million lifetime contribution – is the minimum required to achieve status in the Scarlet Society, the top giving level of the R Fund athletic development.

Members of the Scarlet Society receive benefits including personalized parking at High Point Solutions Stadium, VIP sideline experiences, access to private practices, and many more exclusive experiences, according to the school website.

Rutgers fans can contribute to the campaign and learn about its vision, goals and impact via www.RutgersBigTenBuild.com.

Staff Writer Ryan Dunleavy: rdunleav@gannettnj.com