Rutgers athletics faces record $78 million deficit despite increased spending

Rutgers athletics reported a record $78 million deficit for the 2024-25 fiscal year, despite record spending of $193.8 million. The deficit stems from expenditures outpacing revenues, with significant costs in coaching salaries, staff, scholarships, and facilities. New Athletic Director Keli Zinn acknowledges the financial challenges, stating "it's got to get better." Rutgers has accumulated over $516 million in deficits since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15, with Zinn focusing on revenue generation and fundraising to improve the situation.