C. Vivian Stringer Will Not Coach Rutgers Women This Season

C. Vivian Stringer will not coach the Rutgers women's basketball team this season, program officials said Monday night.

The Hall of Famer will extend the leave of absence she's been on through the end of the 2021-22 season. Stringer stepped away from the program in April.

"Associate Head Coach Timothy Eatman will continue in his role as acting head coach, handling practice, games, and administrative matters," the program said in a statement.

The Scarlet Knights open their season on Tuesday against St. Peter's  at 7 p.m. at the newly named Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway.

Stringer has been away from the team since April, officials said. She did not represent the team at Big Ten Media Day Oct. 6. Eatman at the time alluded to Stringer's concerns related to COVID-19 and said, "We want coach back ... but we understand she is trying to find a way through this pandemic."

Last season, during the height of the pandemic, the Scarlet Knights went 14-5, including winning nine in a row to end the season, after seven games had to be postponed.

Rutgers lost to BYU 69-66 in the NCAA Tournament.

In 26 years at the helm of the Rutgers women's basketball program, Stringer holds a record of 535-291. She has led the program to the Final Four twice, including the NCAA Title game in 2007 against Tennessee. The Hall of Famer owns 1055 career wins as a head coach.

Eatman has been with Rutgers since 2015, and has served as Acting Head Coach before during the final six games of the 2018-19 season. He was promoted to Associate Head Coach before the 2019-20 season.