Waters Resigns as Rutgers Basketball Coach
Mar 01 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, NJ - Gary Waters, head coach of the Rutgers University men's basketball team, announced today that he is resigning his position effective at the conclusion of the 2005-06 season.
'I have enjoyed coaching the Rutgers basketball team for the past five seasons, and have had the opportunity to work with some tremendous young men,' Waters said. 'But at this time, I feel that this is the best course of action for me to take for the Rutgers basketball program and for my family. I feel we were able to accomplish a lot here, but it is time for me and my family to move forward.'
Waters, 55, has been head coach at Rutgers since 2001. This season, he has led the Scarlet Knights to a 16-12 record, including 6-9 in the BIG EAST Conference. Rutgers is presently in 10th place in the BIG EAST, with one game remaining in the regular season at St. John's on Sunday, March 5. The top 12 teams in the Conference's final regular season standings qualify for the BIG EAST Tournament, March 8-11, at Madison Square Garden.
'I want to thank Gary for his service to Rutgers University. He and his teams provided a number of exciting moments for our fans in the past five years,' said Director of Athletics Robert. E. Mulcahy III. 'Gary has put our program on solid ground, and for that, we are most appreciative. Gary is a quality individual, and I wish him and his family well in their future endeavors.
'I want to dispel any notion that Coach Waters' resignation was due to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his missing our game with Marquette,' Mulcahy added. 'That is simply not true.
'Gary Waters will remain as our coach for the remainder of the season. Therefore, I will have no comment regarding a successor. From this point on, our focus will be on our team, and the remainder of our season.' ??
Since taking over at Rutgers in 2001, Waters has a 76-73 record as head coach of the Scarlet Knights, including a pair of appearances in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). In 2003, Waters guided Rutgers to a 20-13 record and to the championship game of the NIT, where it fell to Michigan. In nearly 10 years as a college head coach, Waters has an overall mark of 168-133, including a 92-60 record and two appearances in the NCAA Tournament in five seasons at Kent State.
Under terms of the resignation agreement, Waters will receive a settlement of $550,000 plus other compensation.
