Time for Fred Hill To Go

Everyone thought the negative perception of Rutgers basketball would change when Fred Hill was hired. They cited Hill's ability to recruit players in New Jersey based on his work as as assistant coach.

Then-Rutgers athletic director Bob Mulcahy hired him only for that purpose. It certainly wasn't for his coaching ability.

This decision proved to be a mistake. Rutgers has not gotten any better under Hill's leadership.

This pessimist does not expect anything to change.

Hill received enough chances to turn it around, but it hasn't happened. Certain players regressed, and recruiting hasn't gotten better.

The Rutgers coach keeps talking about getting the best players, but the reality is, they would rather play for a legitimate college program than play at Rutgers.

They know those other Big East or ACC coaches will do a better job of getting the most out of them than the Rutgers coaching staff.

This has been a humbling experience for Hill, after being successful as an assistant coach for several programs.

It's a tough situation. Hill's predecessors were no better in recruiting New Jersey.

Something has to change.

Rutgers must hire a guy who can coach, not a guy who can only schmooze with the boosters or be an active recruiter. 

The university and the boosters must find a way to pay for a legitimate coach. It won't be easy, but something has to be done.

Maybe that guy is Rick Pitino.

Why not be bold? Pitino may be looking for another challenge, not to mention he may enjoy being away from the presence of John Calipari at Lexington.

Someone needs to feed Pitino's ego. One thing about him: He likes the attention and the schmoozing from team.

Rutgers owes it to themselves to take their best shot of getting the Louisville coach.

If not him, Billy Gillispie would be another fine choice.

What Rutgers does not need is a coach from a mid-major program or an assistant coach that is looking for an opportunity to grow as a head coach.

New Jersey saw enough of that.

Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti has to make a splashy hire for people to regain interest in the men's basketball team.

That's the only way this program can be turned around. In the Big East, a middling team needs to hire a big name just to keep up with the other programs when it comes to winning and recruiting players.

Hill is not that person. He does not strike anyone as a guy that commands respect when it comes to leading and coaching.

He is nothing more than an assistant coach at best. Rutgers had the right idea of hiring him to be Gary Waters' assistant coach several years ago, but we all knew Hill took the job when he realized Waters was going to be fired soon after.

It wasn't a good idea at the time for Hill to be a head coach at the state university. Not when he never served as a coach that was doing scouting or creating game plans.

Hill's lack of coaching experience shows up when it comes to late in the second half of a tight game or when Rutgers attempts to defend.

Rutgers can't be in this situation again whether it's Hill or a rookie coach.

What they need is a coach who knows what he's doing.