Gary Redus II, Keli Zinn, and William Tate are making the leap from LSU to Rutgers with one goal: turn the athletic program around. And they’re starting with women’s basketball.
On Tuesday, March 10, Rutgers rolled out the red carpet to introduce its new women’s basketball head coach, Gary Redus. The press conference was held at the team’s practice facility on Rutgers’ main campus in New Brunswick.
Redus was introduced by Rutgers Athletic Director Keli Zinn, who stepped into her role last summer. Zinn made it clear that while she and President William Tate vetted multiple candidates, one conversation with Redus was all it took to know he was the right choice.
Zinn, Tate, and Redus all arrived at Rutgers from LSU within the past year. A clear signal that Rutgers is serious about elevating its athletic programs. Already one of the top public research universities in the country, the focus now is getting Rutgers back into the national conversation in areas like athletics, starting with women’s basketball.
The Scarlet Knights are coming off a challenging season and currently sit near the bottom of the Big Ten. Redus isn’t shying away from that reality. In fact, he’s embracing it.
He made it clear that changing the culture is the first priority. That starts with mindset, recruiting, and raising the standard across the board.
Known for his ability to recruit and build strong relationships, Redus brings a foundation centered on trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to winning. It’s exactly why Zinn and Tate targeted him for the role.
When asked what lessons from LSU he plans to bring to Rutgers, Redus didn’t hesitate:
“I’ve been in those championship games. I’ve had those hard conversations. You do what you need to do to bring winning basketball to Rutgers.”
He doubled down on the bigger picture:
“The attitude has to change to expecting success. More toughness. More grit. You change the mentality by demanding excellence every day.”
Despite this being his first head coaching role, Redus isn’t approaching it cautiously. He’s approaching it confidently.
“Get your season tickets early,” he said. “We’re going to turn this program around quickly.”
Zinn and Tate echoed the long-term vision, acknowledging that rebuilding takes time, but making it clear that Redus will have the resources needed to succeed. The priority is simple: attract top talent and build a program that can compete.
If the message from day one is any indication, Rutgers women’s basketball isn’t planning to stay at the bottom for long.
