30 Reasons for 30 Days - Day 12: Because of Sarah Baumgartner

From now through September 3rd, I am posting a daily reason why it is great to be a fan of Rutgers football. There are a lot more than thirty, but I picked my thirty reasons, and hope you like them. If not, be sure to let me know.

Sarah Baumgartner, who is Rutgers’ Deputy Athletic Director, came here only 2 ¹⁄₂ years ago after a seven year stint at the University of Missouri, finishing as the Associate Athletic Director for Development. While there, the Illinois grad oversaw a tremendous growth of the school’s program not only in stature by going from the Big XII to the SEC, and in fundraising, where the Tigers experiences large increases in donor contributions to the school.

Sarah was hired by Julie Hermann, our previous athletic director. For all of the gaffes and mis-steps attributed to Ms. Hermann, Sarah was certainly not one of them. Since her arrival in December 2013, she has been omnipresent at the school, being involved in just about everything.

This did not go unnoticed by Pat Hobbs upon his arrival at Rutgers two years later. He has not only retained Sarah, she has since been promoted to the #2 position in the department, being named as Deputy Director of Athletics.

But that’s not all. She has taken a large role in the Big Ten Build program that has raised more than 50% of the $100 Million goal in less than nine months. This has led to the beginning of building a basketball practice facility, and is continuing to make an impact upon the campus and the way Rutgers does business. When the school surpassed the 50% mark in this fundraising effort, Sarah was credited by AD Hobbs as a major force in the fundraising.

Finally, we aren’t the only ones that recognize her value to the University and the athletic program. Just two months ago, Sarah was named the FBS Administrator of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA). At the time, On the Banks published a great article by our own Bob Cancro noting her recognition.

Of course, regular readers of On the Banks are not surprised that I would have chosen her to be on our 30 Reasons for 30 Days list. Also in June, in our list of 2016 Power Brokers at Rutgers, Sarah was listed by us as the #4 on the list, topped only by Football Coach Chris Ash, Chair of the Board of Governors Greg Brown, and her boss, AD Pat Hobbs, who we’ve also listed in our 30 Reasons for 30 Days list. She came in above such noted Rutgers figures as new head men’s basketball coach Steven Pikiell, women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer, and wrestling coach Scott Goodale.

For all of the above, Sarah Baumgartner is today’s reason why it is great to be a Rutgers Football fan!

Photo Courtesy of JD Sherman