Rutgers retains firm for head football coach search

Rutgers Athletics announced the retention of Ventura Partners, an executive search and talent management agency, to help with the search for a new head football coach, according to its press release. 

The firm, which helped Kansas State find a new coach in 2018, will be paid at least $40,000, due Nov. 1, according to an article on NJ Advance Media. The contract also includes a monthly retainer of $4,000 a month until Nov. 1, 2020, totaling a payment of $88,000 guaranteed. 

"We are excited to be working with Ventura Partners,” said Rutgers Athletics Director Pat Hobbs, according to the release. “They provide a unique range of services, including talent acquisition and development. We will begin working together immediately to ensure excellent leadership for our football program. They will also be working with us throughout the engagement on strengthening our human resources and providing market data and intelligence.”

Among Ventura Partners’ professional services, it assists in leadership identification, market mapping and intelligence, outreach, internal search assistance, reference review, staff development and industry consulting, according to the release. 

“Ventura Partners, a national executive search and talent management firm with a specialty practice in intercollegiate athletics, has been retained by Rutgers University to assist in the search,” said Chad Chatlos, who specializes in Sports & Entertainment searches at Ventura Partners, according to the release. “We will work closely with Pat Hobbs, the Director of Athletics, and his leadership team on the appointment.”

The search for a new head coach for the Rutgers football team comes midseason for the Scarlet Knights, who have a 1-5 record, going 0-4 among Big Ten Conference matchups this season. Some commentators, such as Steve Politi, have begun to make the case that this season’s football team is the worst in Big Ten Conference history, according to an article on NJ Advance Media. 

While many fans would like to see former head coach Greg Schiano return to Piscataway, who the next coach will be or the top candidates being considered is not clear yet.

The Daily Targum reported in September that former head coach Chris Ash was fired by Hobbs, giving Ash an approximate $8 million payout through the 2022 season. The buyout could be reduced if Ash finds a new job. 

"Progress has been achieved in many areas, but unfortunately, that progress has not been realized on the field of play," Hobbs said, according to the article. "As such, it is in the best interest of the program to make a change."