PISCATAWAY - National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Hall of Famer Fred Gruninger served as a Rutgers administrator and coach for 40 years, including 25 years (1973-98) as Director of Athletics. On Friday evening, he will join an exclusive group of teams and individuals who comprise the Scarlet Knights' Athletics Hall of Fame.

"I felt very honored number one," said Gruninger about learning of his hall of fame selection. "Rutgers was such a great place my whole career. This is really special. I was at Rutgers a long time and had the opportunity to work with a lot of great people and meet an extraordinary group of alumni, students, fans and friends. Whenever I go back to Rutgers, it's like going home."

In addition to guiding the Scarlet Knights through a period of substantial growth and achievement, the New Jersey native was a champion of student-athlete well-being and spearhead initiatives to enhance their personal growth. Gruninger's focus upon the student-athlete as the most vital member of the athletics division led to the advancement of a variety of programs, including academic services, facilities, community involvement and personal development. He also created the Scarlet R Club, a branch of annual giving to benefit student-athletes and the athletics program. 

"I think of the people that I worked with," said Gruninger when asked to reflect upon his fondest memories. "We all had the same mission, and that was to bring about the best we could in relationship to our responsibilities."

Among those in attendance on Friday evening will be Gruninger's wife of 62-years, Barbara, and their children Mark, Katherine and Jack.

"I understand there's going to be quite a few former associates in attendance," said Gruninger. "This is going to be a very special happening for us. I'm really looking forward to mingling and talking about the old times."

In order to bring the University into compliance with Title IX, Gruninger was charged with incorporating the University's women's sports teams, which competed for Douglass, into the department. He enacted a three-year plan, brining five women's programs under the Athletic Department umbrella annually to sponsor to 15 women's sports within three years. The nation's first full-time women's basketball coach, Theresa Grentz, was hired by Gruninger in 1976 and led the Scarlet Knights to the 1982 AIAW Championship.

"The President gave me the opportunity to move the program forward," said Gruninger. "We established many important things that had to take place, such as the women's intercollegiate program."

An Army veteran, Gruninger spearheaded the upgrading of facilities. Under his leadership, RU opened the 'new' Rutgers Stadium in 1994 and the Rutgers Athletic Center in 1977. He also served as chair of the University Golf Committee for 35 years and oversaw the development of the Rutgers Golf Course from a nine to an 18-hole facility. In accordance with the University President's directive to go "bigger time," Gruninger also orchestrated Rutgers' move to the Big East Conference in 1995 after presentations and talks with the Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conferences.

"What remains the same is the commitment to bring out the best for Rutgers Athletics," said Gruninger when asked about the differences in the collegiate landscape between now and during his tenure. "We had a lot of exchange and interaction with student-athletes. That was and will always be a really fun part of it."

A graduate of Scotch Plains High School, Gruninger was a member of the Rutgers baseball team before earning both bachelor's and master's degrees from The State University. He began his administrative tenure in 1958 as an alumni relations officer with what was then known as the "Rutgers Fund" before moving to athletics in 1966. The Scarlet Knights golf coach from 1963-71, he was appointed Assistant Athletic Director in 1966, Associate Athletic Director in 1971 and Director of Athletics in 1973.

"I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with some very, very dedicated people," added Gruninger. "You can't go beyond that. The many interactions, going home at night and thinking about them. You just feel very fortunate to have had that opportunity."