The standoff is finally over.  Fred Hill and Rutgers agreed on $850,000 to step down as Rutgers’ men’s basketball coach.  The firing and buyout amount has been a public war in New Jersey, with AD Tim Pernetti and Hill as the central figures.  Hill was originally offered $600,000 of the $1.9 million he was owed for the remaining three years of his contract.  Hill rejected it, played hardball, refused to leave, came to work everyday - and in return got himself an extra $250,000.  Rutgers had been trying to fire Hill for cause….and without settlement….following an ugly on-field incident at a Rutgers-Pitt baseball game of April 1st.  But in the end, Rutgers and Pernetti accepted the fact that they had to end the drama and move forward.

But Pernetti’s job as AD begins now.  This hire will make or break his name in the Rutgers community.  Yes, he is a football guy….but RU Football has been, is now and always will be two words - Greg Schiano.  But the hoops coach will be all him.

This has been the year of turnover in the metropolitan area for basketball coaches.  But it has also been the year of bold moves by Ahtletic Directors locally….

St. John’s - Chris Monasch decides to go with ESPN’s Steve Lavin.  A big name in the college hoops world, but still a bold move considering he hasn’t coached in seven years.

Seton Hall - Joe Quinlan and Patrick Hobbs made a bold move of their own when they hired 35 year old Kevin Willard from Iona.  A perfect example of trying to snag a guy before he gets really big, and then you can’t get him.

Fordham - Frank McLaughlin ignored the critics who said he had to hire a coach who had been to the NCAA Tournament. Instead, Fordham made a great choice by hiring one of the most well liked and best recruiters in the area - Tom Pecora from Hofstra.

Hofstra - Jack Hayes had a lot of big time interest from current coaches for one of the best mid-major jobs on the east coast. Instead, he hired SNY & ESPN analyst Tim Welsh….going with what felt like the right fit, as opposed to just hiring a big name assistant or current head coach.

Iona - In maybe the boldest move of all….Pay Lyons shocked the area by hiring Tim Cluess from Division 2 power C.W. Post. Facing different needs than the schools looking to clean house; Lyons knew what he wanted for his veteran team - a proven winner and a proven head coach.

Now what will Pernetti do?  Will he just read the papers and interview guys that the media says he should, but make no sense….like ex-Ohio State coach Jim O’Brien.  Will he go the St. John’s route and hire ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla?  Or will he try to find that next young coaching star like Seton Hall did in Kevin Willard?  My guess is that Pernetti wants to find the next up-and-comer.  Why wouldn’t he?  Greg Schiano was once an up-and-comer himself and he is close friends with Pernetti.

That is why I truly think Rutgers will hire Mike Rice from Robert Morris.

Just my gut feeling right now.  What do you guys think?

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