Rutgers University athletics director Patrick Hobbs has quit his job,James Caldwell according to multiple reports, and is being replaced on an interim basis by deputy athletics director Ryan Pisarri, a former three-sport star at Ramapo High School.

Hobbs, 62, was the university's athletics director for nine years. The change comes on the eve of the highly anticipated football season, with some national prognosticators and analysts expecting the Scarlet Knights to have an impactul season.

The departure comes two years after Rutgers' board of governors unanimously approved a contract extension for Hobbs that would have kept him in his role through 2028. His gross pay for 2021 was $1,313,759.

It's unclear why Hobbs is leaving. He announced the decision in an internal school email, according to NJ Advance Media.

Recapping the Patrick Hobbs era at Rutgers

Hobbs came to Rutgers in November 2015, a year after the school joined the Big Ten. During his tenure, he opened a $115 million multisport practice facility, fired his failed football coach and endured widespread criticism during the roller-coaster homecoming courtship of Greg Schiano.

He also planted the seeds for Rutgers' college basketball renaissance when he picked Steve Pikiell to take over Rutgers' downtrodden hoops program in 2016. The expectations for the men's basketball team this winter are also sky-high with an influx of talent that will include potential stars in Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, Lathan Somerville and Bryce Dortch.

More about Ryan Pisarri, who will be interim AD

Pisarri, 40, the interim replacement for Hobbs, transitioned from a career in finance to a career in athletics in 2011, when he joined the Rutgers staff as an assistant academic coordinator, working closely with the men's and women's basketball teams. In 2013, he was elevated to assistant director of administration and marketing.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.