Rutgers Mourns Loss of Athletic Director Bob Mulcahy
Having served as Director of Athletics for Rutgers University from 1998 – 2005, and was credited with helping lead the resurgence in Rutgers football in the 2000’s passed away Monday. He was 85.
Mulcahy was the 10th Athletic Director in Rutgers history, and was inducted into the University’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.
Mulahy was instrumental in reshapping Rutgers Athletics at the turn of the century. He obtained funding from the state legislature for a massive renovation of the university’s athletic facilities, including a renovation of the current SHI Stadium that included the addition of premium seating in the Provident Bank Stadium Club.
According to Rutgers Athletics, “[Mulcahy] worked to raise the athletics department’s endowment and secured increased television coverage for its football and basketball programs.”
In 2005, he hired Greg Schiano, then the Defensive Coordinator at the University of Miami, Florida, to become the Scarlet Knights new head football coach. The hiring produced the most successful run for Rutgers football that included six College Bowl trips with five victories.
Schiano now in his second stint at Rutgers Head Football Coach was quoted as saying, “In Bob’s passing, Rutgers and New Jersey lost one of its truly faithful servants. Personally, I lost a mentor, a role model, and a true friend. The partnership we had at Rutgers was uncommon and something we both valued greatly. However, what Bob valued most dearly was his family. You are his legacy.”
Women’s Basketball Head Coach C. Vivian Stringer added, “Bob Mulcahy was a visionary, and while we will miss him dearly, his legacy is very much alive at Rutgers. He saw the importance of having a successful athletic department as the front porch of our University, and he put his full love and support into that belief.
“He believed in us as people, as professionals, and as coaches to continue building this athletic department to the standards he knew we could uphold. Every generation of Scarlet Knights will continue to benefit from his vision.”
Bob Mulcahy was preceded in death by his beloved wife Terry of 62 years. The college sweethearts survived by seven children, Cathleen, Bob, Matthew, Kevin, Muffy, Megan, and Deidre and fifteen grandchildren, Nicholas, Matthew, Alaine, Connor, Tyler, Abigail, Emily, Owen, Katie, Bobby, Drew, Mia, Brady, Annabelle and Emma Grace.