Yardbarker
x
Rutgers HC Steve Pikiell announces cancer diagnosis
Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Steve Pikiell. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Rutgers HC Steve Pikiell announces cancer diagnosis ahead of 2026-27 season

By Clark Dalton  |  Last updated Sep 9, 2026 4:04 PM ET
Google Add us as a preferred source on Google

Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Steve Pikiell will miss portions of the 2026-27 season as he battles cancer. 

On Wednesday, Pikiell announced the medical diagnosis. The coach didn't say what kind of cancer he had but revealed he underwent surgery while thanking his doctors. 

Pikiell said Brandin Knight will serve as the interim coach in games he can't participate in. The coach didn't say what games he could miss, but he plans to remain involved with the program as he battles the disease. 

Steve Pikiell discusses cancer diagnosis 

"I will still be involved with the team to the best of my ability as I navigate the challenges of the season through treatment," Pikiell said in a statement. "I have great confidence in Coach Knight, the rest of our talented staff, and our exceptional student-athletes. I know they will do an amazing job leading our program when I'm not able to. 

"Just as I ask my team to fight and embrace challenges head-on, I'm going to attack cancer the same way. With the support of my doctors, my family, and now Rutgers Nation, I am confident we will be victorious."

Rutgers athletic director Keli Zinn released a statement, expressing her support for the coach and his family.

Many others in college basketball also told the coach they're keeping him in their thoughts, including NBC's John Fanta. 

Pikiell, who turns 59 on Nov. 21, has gone 161-160 in 10 seasons at Rutgers, guiding the Big Ten program to two NCAA tournaments. He went 192-156 in an 11-year run with the Stony Brook Seawolves, leading the school to one March Madness trip. 

Along with being one of more well-respected coaches in college hoops, he may also be one of the funniest. Fans got a glimpse of his lighthearted sense of humor last season. 

Asked if he would consider recruiting pro players to his roster after former NBA player James Nnaji joined the Baylor Bears, he said, "I'd like to get a 36-year-old with four kids and [who] is hungry for a job, I'd like to get one of those guys."

Let's hope the coach keeps his fondness for tongue-in-cheek comments while he aims to beat cancer.

Clark Dalton
X Muck Rack

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA.