C. Vivian Stringer, Rutgers women’s basketball coach, will be absent for the upcoming season due to COVID-19 concerns. The school announced Monday.
Since April, when the virus' delta variant was spreading in the United States, the coach at 73 years old has not been with the team.
After Rutgers had returned from a six week pause, she said that the COVID situation was real and that they must be careful.
Matt Choquette, team spokesperson, stated last month that Stringer was concerned about the lack of testing in Big Ten media day. She also mentioned the contagious nature and high-contagious natures of the delta variant, as well as her desire to not transmit the disease to her daughter, 40, who has needed special care since she contracted spinal meningitis.
Stringer is fourth in Division I wins and has 1,055 wins over her 50-year coaching career. Her 27th season at Rutgers was her plan. Since April, Stringer's associate head coach Tim Eatman has been taking over for Stringer and will continue to do so.
He was also in charge of Stringer's exhaustion-related absences from the last few games of the 2018-19 Season.
Stringer signed a five year extension in April. The contract provides for $5.5 million in compensation, starting at $1 million the first year and ending with retention bonuses and performance incentives.
Last season, the Scarlet Knights were 14-5 and lost to BYU in the first round NCAA tournament. Star Arella Guirantes was promoted to the WNBA. Standout freshman Diamond Johnson transferred from N.C. State.
Rutgers will open the season against Saint Peter's on Tuesday.
