Rutgers has named Lakers assistant Eddie Jordan as its new basketball coach, moving forward from the scandal that has enveloped the program in the last month.
Jordan will reportedly receive a five-year contract worth more than $1 million each year.
Rutgers is naming Eddie Jordan as head coach just two weeks after firing Mike Rice, who was seen on video being verbally and physically abusive with Rutgers players . It was uncovered that the Scarlet Knights had suspended Rice for three games and fined him $50,000 earlier this season but did not fire him until the video became public.
The scandal also claimed the jobs of athletic director Tim Pernetti, assistant coach Jimmy Martelli, and a university lawyer, all of whom resigned.
Pernetti received even more criticism for deflecting blame from Rice after the scandal and not firing the coach earlier.
“I am responsible for the decision to attempt a rehabilitation of Coach Rice,” Pernetti said. “Dismissal and corrective action were debated in December and I thought it was in the best interest of everyone to rehabilitate, but I was wrong. Moving forward, I will work to regain the trust of the Rutgers community.”
Reports from late last week noted that the team was close to signing Jordan , a former Scarlett Knights player. He played for the Scarlett Knights from 1973-77, helping the team reach Final Four in 1976.
The Rutgers coaching search originally seemed focused on Dan Hurley, but he received a contract extension from Rhode Island and decided to remain there instead of moving to the Scarlett Knights. Hurley, who went 8-21 with the Rams last year, comes from a strong basketball pedigree as his father Bob Sr. is a legendary high school basketball coach in New Jersey.
Eddie Jordan seems a logical choice to lead Rutgers in its recovery from the Mike Rice scandal. Jordan comes to the team with NBA head coaching experience with stops in Sacramento, Washington, and Philadelphia.
