A father of four, Steve Pikiell has led the resurgence of Rutgers men’s basketball both on and off the court. Entering his 10th season as head coach of the Scarlet Knights in 2025-26, Pikiell guided Rutgers back to the NCAA Tournament in 2021, its first appearance since 1991. The team returned in 2022, marking the first consecutive NCAA appearances since 1976. In 2022, Pikiell surpassed Tom Young for the most ranked wins in school history (15). Pikiell’s 147 wins at Rutgers are third all-time in school history.
Pikiell has coached some of the greatest players in Rutgers history, including the school’s 11th All-American in Ron Harper Jr., National Defensive Player of the Year and all-time steals leader Caleb McConnell, and Big Ten Medal of Honor winner Geo Baker. In 2024-25, Pikiell led the recruitment of the highest-ranked players in school history, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, who became the highest NBA draft picks in program history in 2025. Pikiell welcomes the fourth-best recruiting class in the Big Ten Conference and the 30th in the nation in 2025-26.
With 35 years of coaching experience, the Bristol, Connecticut, native is under contract to remain at Rutgers through the 2030-31 season. As the 19th head coach in school history, Pikiell has been instrumental in program turnarounds throughout his career, achieving conference championships and NCAA Tournament berths. He celebrated his 100th career victory at Rutgers and his 300th career victory overall during the 2022-23 season.
The 2024-25 Season
Led Rutgers to its highest-scoring offense in 32 years, averaging 76.6 points per game. Freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey set Rutgers records for freshman scoring and became the highest NBA draft picks in school history (Harper: 2nd overall, Spurs; Bailey: 5th overall, Jazz). The 2024-25 recruiting class was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation. the highest in school history, including the No. 2 and No. 3 players in the country in Harper and Bailey, respectively. Continued home sellout streak of 78-straight games at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
The 2023-24 Season
Maintained one of the nation’s best homecourt advantages, finishing 12-5 at home and selling out every home game. Secured a 16th-ranked win with a 78-56 victory over No. 9 Wisconsin. Achieved the school’s first-ever win at Michigan and a four-game conference winning streak. Center Clifford Omoruyi averaged 2.9 blocks per game (third nationally) and earned All-Big Ten First Defensive Team honors. The Scarlet Knights sold out of season tickets during the summer, marking the quickest home slate sellout in school history. Collected 16th-ranked win with a 78-56 victory over No.9 Wisconsin on Feb. 9 in Piscataway. A four-game winning streak during conference play started with the school’s first-ever win at Michigan, a 69-59 victory at the Crisler Center on Feb. 3. Jeremiah Williams was awarded the Scarlet Knights’ third-ever Big Ten Player of the Week during that stretch. Center Clifford Omoruyi finished as one of the best rim defenders in the nation with 2.9 blocks-per-game good for third in the nation and first in the Big Ten. Also, Omoruyi was honored with All-Big Ten First Defensive Team Honors, All Big Ten Honorable Mention and All-Met Third Team honors.
The 2022-23 Season
Guided Rutgers to three straight postseason berths for the first time in school history. Notched a 14th-ranked win over No. 8 Indiana and a victory at No. 1 Purdue. Celebrated his 100th Rutgers win and 300th career win. Caleb McConnell earned the Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year and ESPN National Defensive Player of the Year honors. Picked up his 100th career victory at Rutgers and 300th career victory overall during the 2022-23 season. Led RU to three straight postseason berths for the first time in school history. Had all five starters get Big Ten Postseason Award recognition for the second-straight season. Had his second Lefty Driesell National Defensive Player of the Year in Caleb McConnell, and McConnell went on to win the ESPN National Defensive Player of the Year. Signed No. 20-ranked (247 Sports) Gavin Griffiths, the highest-ranked recruit in his tenure as head coach at Rutgers. The 2021-22 Season Rutgers earned 12 Big Ten wins—the most in school history—and made its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The Scarlet Knights achieved program firsts, including victories over a No. 1 ranked team (Purdue), Michigan, and Wisconsin, as well as back-to-back wins over ranked opponents. Rutgers became the all-time leader in ranked wins under Pikiell. Caleb McConnell won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award. Ron Harper Jr. was named the 11th men’s basketball All-American in school history.
The 2020-21 Season
Pikiell received the Peter A. Carlesimo Award from the Met Basketball Writers Association for the second straight season (fourth overall). Led Rutgers to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1991, defeating No. 7 seed Clemson for the program’s first NCAA win since 1983. Rutgers went 16-12 despite the nation’s second-toughest schedule and finished with 10 Big Ten wins over two seasons. Guided the Scarlet Knights to an opening round victory over No. 7 seed Clemson that marked RU’s first NCAA Tournament win since 1983. The Scarlet Knights’ win over No. 7 seed Clemson in the opening round marked the highest-seeded team defeated in the NCAA Tournament since 1979, before falling to an eventual Final Four team in No. 2 seed Houston. While facing a strength of schedule ranked as the second toughest in the nation by ESPN.com, Rutgers went 16-12 overall, ensuring back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 29 years. Under Pikiell’s leadership, Rutgers won 10 Big Ten Conference games and has earned 21 Big Ten wins over the past two seasons. RU finished tied for sixth in 39the nation’s top-rated conference. The team spent 11 weeks nationally ranked or receiving votes in the AP Poll, peaking at No. 11 in the nation. In the regular season, RU earned wins over five teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament - No. 1 seed Illinois, No. 4 seed Purdue, No. 10 seed Maryland, No. 11 seed Michigan State and No. 11 seed Syracuse.
The 2019-20 Season
Recipient of the 2019-20 Jim Phelan Award, presented annually to the nation’s top Division I coach, and Peter A. Carlesimo Award, presented by the Met Basketball Writers Association to the top coach in the Metropolitan Area. Was one of 15 coaches on the Naismith Coach of the Year Late 2020 Season Watch List. Rutgers joined the rankings for the first time in 41 years, since the final 1978-79 AP Poll (No. 18). The Scarlet Knights were No. 24/25 & No. 25/25 in the Jan. 20 & 27 polls, respectively. RU was ranked or receiving votes for eight weeks. RU captured its first 20-win regular season in 37 years, since 1982-83, and first 20-win season overall since 2003-04, and had its first winning season in 14 years, since 2005-06 (19-14). Led Scarlet Knights to most conference victories (11) in 29 years, since 1990-91 (14-4; A-10), while also posting its first winning league record in 29 years. Secured the most home regular-season wins in the nation (18) and set a program record for home wins in a season. Tied for fifth in the Big Ten Conference, the nation’s top-rated league per Ken Pomeroy, after being selected 12th in the preseason media poll. Earned RU’s first opening round bye in a conference tournament in 25 years, since the 1995 Atlantic 10 Championship. Opened the RWJ Barnabas Health Athletic Performance Center to help further the mission of bringing winning back to Piscataway. The 307,000-square-foot, four-story sports facility and parking deck held its grand opening on Sept. 12, 2019, and provides state-of-the-art practice facilities, training areas, locker room, and office space for men’s basketball. Has welcomed four-star signees from New Jersey in three consecutive classes, with Cliff Omoruyi (2020) joining Paul Mulcahy (2019) and Ron Harper, Jr. (2018) in electing to stay home.
The 2018-19 Season
Rutgers was recognized as the nation’s Most Improved Team by Sports Illustrated. The Scarlet Knights improved 70 positions in the KenPom.com rankings, best among all Power conference programs. Led Rutgers to seven league victories, its most in conference play in 13 years, while competing with a roster ranked 330th in experience. Projected to finish 14th in the preseason, Rutgers tied for 10th in the Big Ten standings. Rutgers’ schedule ranked 31st nationally in difficulty per Ken Pom, toughest among all New York Metro programs. 61 percent (19/31) of games were against opponents that earned 2019 NCAA Championship (15) or National Invitation Tournament (4) berths. Rutgers concluded its season 75th in the KenPom ratings, the program’s best rank since concluding its 2005-06 campaign at No. 71. With wins over No. 16 Ohio State and at No. 22 Iowa, the Scarlet Knights earned victories over two ranked league opponents for the first time since 2007-08. Rutgers had five sellouts at the RAC, its most since 2004-05 (7), and average attendance improved 31.1%. Welcomed a four-recruit signing class that included multiple four-star players for the first time at Rutgers since 2008.
The 2017-18 Season
Rutgers advanced to the Big Ten Conference quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden via wins over Minnesota and five-time national champion Indiana. It marked the first time RU won two conference tournament games since 1998. Despite playing the second toughest conference schedule in the Big Ten according to Ken Pom analysis for the second straight year, Rutgers ranked 17th nationally in both scoring defense (64.8) and offensive rebounding (13.15), while placing 27th in 3-point FG% defense (27.0). The Scarlet Knights ranked among the top three in the Big Ten in eight statistical categories, including leading the league in offensive rebounding and 3-point FG% defense. RU accomplished these improvements while playing 10 games against programs that advanced to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. Defeated No. 15 Seton Hall 71-65 before 8,318 fans at the RAC on Dec. 16, 2017, in the annual Garden State Hardwood Classic. Rutgers was honored as the NABC D-I National Team of the Week for its win over the Pirates. Rutgers enjoyed multiple home sell-outs at the RAC in the same season for the first time since 2011. The 8,325 attendance vs. Purdue (Feb. 3, 2108) was the largest at the RAC in 15 years.
The 2016-17 Season:
Began tenure with a 9-1 start, the best head-coaching debut in Rutgers men’s basketball history. The Scarlet Knights more than doubled their overall win total, while tripling their conference victory total. Rutgers achieved a plus117 rank improvement in RPI, as well as major NCAA ranking improvements in rebound margin (+299), scoring defense (+272), three-point FG defense (+247), offensive rebounds (+244), rebounds (+232), field goal percentage defense (+226), and blocks (+114). The Scarlet Knights ranked among the top 100 in 10 NCAA statistical categories, including among the top 50 in seven, after ranking among the top 150 in just two statistical categories in 2015-16. Posted an undefeated home mark in non-conference play and jumped out to a 6-0 record, the sixth-best undefeated start in the 110-year history of the program. Played 17 games, 52% of its schedule, against programs that earned NCAA (13) or NIT (4) bids. Rutgers out-rebounded opponents in 11 of 18 conference games, after winning the boards in just three league contests the prior year. Ten Big Ten games were decided in single digits after suffering 15 conference losses by double digits in 2015-16.
Prior to Rutgers
Pikiell led Stony Brook to six postseason appearances in seven years, winning four America East regular season championships and earning America East Coach of the Year four times. He served as an assistant at George Washington (2001-05), Central Connecticut State (1997-01), Yale (1992-95), and began his career at UConn (1991-92). He also had a stint as interim head coach at Wesleyan and played professionally with the New Haven Skyhawks (USBL, 1992).
As a player
Was a four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain at Connecticut from 1987-91 under head coach Jim Calhoun. Pikiell was one of the first recruits to join Calhoun at UConn, kickstarting the career of one of the best coaches in college basketball history. After placing ninth in the Big East with a 4-12 record in his freshman season, UConn won its first Big East title and advanced to the Elite Eight and Sweet 16 during the two years he captained the Huskies. As a senior, helped No. 11-seeded UConn to a 79-62 win over Shaquille O’Neal and No. 6 seed LSU in the round of 64. Played in 106 career games and averaged 8.2 points a game. Was the recipient of the UConn Club Senior Athlete Award for outstanding contributions to UConn Athletics. Enjoyed a storied career at St. Paul Catholic High School. A three-time all-state selection, he had his No. 21 jersey retired by the school and ranks among its all-time leaders in points, assists and steals. Was inducted into Bristol’s Hall of Fame in 2006.
Personal
Pikiell and his wife, Kate, have four children: Brooke (a Northwestern basketball/graduate student at Rutgers), John Patrick (a Rutgers graduate), Olivia (current Rutgers women’s lacrosse player/ former UNC lacrosse player), and Kevin (Sacred Heart men’s basketball player). A 1990 graduate of UConn with a degree in finance, Pikiell was a four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain. He enjoyed a distinguished high school career at St. Paul Catholic High School, with his No. 21 jersey retired and induction into the Bristol Hall of Fame in 2006.
