PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Rutgers women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer will guide the Scarlet Knights into the Big Ten.
The Hall of Fame coach signed a four-year contract extension on Wednesday the school announced. She will earn $700,000 in salary and guaranteed money and can reach up to $1 million a year with incentives. She earned $1 million a year in her previous seven-year contract that expires on June 30.
Stringer, who will be starting her 20th season at Rutgers, can earn bonuses for academic achievement by her team as well as on the court performance.
“It’s now time to focus on the next era in Rutgers Athletics, as we join the prestigious Big Ten Conference and continue our quest for a national championship,” the 66-year-old coach said in a statement.
“Each and every day I feel blessed to wake up and have an unwavering passion to do a job I love — coach basketball, teach young people and make a difference in the lives of each and every young women that comes through our program.
“I know the fans can be excited for the upcoming season with the amount of talent we have returning, as well as the competitiveness we will face in the Big Ten.”
Stringer is 929-341 over her 43-year career, including winning 409 games at Rutgers. She has led the school to two Final Four berths.
Rutgers is coming off a 28-9 season in which it won the WNIT championship in its first appearance in that postseason tournament.
Stringer has her entire roster back and a few talented newcomers.
“It’s a privilege to have our iconic Hall of Fame coach lead our program into the Big Ten,” athletic director Julie Hermann said in a statement. “Watching her steer our young team through the WNIT to the title is a sign of the foundation she has laid for our future success.”
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