A message from Rutgers University Athletic Director Keli Zinn
Almost two weeks ago, Rutgers University announced the hiring on Keli Zinn as the school’s new Athletic Director and a few days later on August 6th was her first day on the job.
Now just a few days after that, Zinn released a message directed towards the Rutgers community and the Scarlet Faithful about her excitement for the future of Rutgers Athletics and the upcoming season for several Fall sports.
Dear Rutgers Nation,
With my tenure now officially underway and the start of the 2025-26 academic calendar and fall sports seasons upon us, I wanted to reach out to share my excitement for our collective future and my gratefulness for your welcome and kindness.
From the moment I stepped on campus and was introduced as your Director of Athletics, the outpouring of support and well wishes for Nate and I have meant the world to us. We have already had the chance to meet so many of you and look forward to continuing to get to know the Rutgers community in the days, weeks and months ahead. I want to once again thank President Tate for his support and trust in me. The most successful organizations thrive when there is alignment, and he and I are cleareyed about the incredible potential at Rutgers. With the right resources and talent on and off the field, we will compete with the nation’s elite.
Nate and I have learned so much about New Jersey in just a short period of time. And although we’re not quite ready to take a side on the great debate of Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham, we have quickly recognized that New Jersey is a special place, and the people here love their State University.
With the first official athletics competition just days away, I look forward to getting out to our venues to watch our student-athletes compete and represent Rutgers. Women’s soccer will get the year started on Aug. 14 and then we’re off to the races: field hockey, men’s soccer, volleyball, cross country, men’s and women’s golf and football. I can’t wait to experience gameday at Rutgers for all our sports and experience The Rutgers Boardwalk before our football team kicks off its season against Ohio on Aug. 28. I welcome all of you to join us in our future of promise with the Scarlet Knights and don’t hesitate to introduce yourself as you see me there.
The world of college athletics is experiencing continuous change but there are opportunities for success within the chaos. We are going to attack each day with intensity, drive and a commitment to excellence. We will work to push each other to be great in everything that we do. We expect the very best from our student-athletes in the classroom and in competition. We will seek excellence from our coaches and staff, ensuring that we support the mission of this university. And I will hold no one to a higher standard than I hold myself, all with the goal of making Rutgers fans and alumni proud of what we will accomplish together.
As I shared from the podium a couple weeks ago, we didn’t come here to just compete.
We came here to win! To win conference AND national championships. I can’t wait to get this journey started and help Rutgers Athletics reach the level of success I know it is destined to achieve.
Go RU!
Keli Zinn
Rutgers Athletic Director
Just like Zinn mentioned above, the first athletics competition for the Scarlet Knights this Fall will be a women’s soccer match, as Rutgers will welcome NJIT to Yurcak Field for a 7:00pm game. After that is when things kick into high gear, as several programs including the football team will open their 2025 seasons.
As always stay tuned for the latest on Rutgers Athletics right here on The Knight Report!
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