Fred Gruninger, who served as Rutgers University’s athletics director for 25 years before retiring in 1998, died Friday night, according to a Rutgers official. He was 92.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame for both Rutgers Athletics and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, Gruninger served as an administrator and coach for 40 years, including his 25-year stint as Scarlet Knights AD from 1973-98.
Born in Fanwood, Gruninger was a graduate of Scotch Plains High School and an Army veteran before playing baseball while earning his bachelor’s degree at Rutgers in the late 1950s.
He started working at Rutgers in 1959 as an alumni relations officer and director of the Rutgers Fund and earned his master’s degree at Rutgers before being appointed assistant AD in 1966. He also was the school’s golf coach from 1963-71.
He was named athletics director in February 1973 as part of a dual announcement that included the appointment of Frank Burns as the head football coach, then oversaw Rutgers’ dramatic rise from Middle Atlantic Conference stature to the big time. As the ninth AD in Rutgers history, he spearheaded a comprehensive women’s sports program after Congress enacted Title IX, the law that barred federally funded institutions from discriminating against students or employees based on sex.
In June 1974, Gruninger announced the formation of a women’s varsity program, naming head coaches for the fledgling basketball, softball and track and field teams. His hiring of Sandra Petway meant Rutgers would have its first Black head coach in any sport. And when Theresa Shank Grentz was hired in August 1976, she became the first full-time women’s basketball coach in the nation.
Gruninger created the Scarlet R Club, a fundraising arm benefitting athlete scholarships, and led a facilities push that resulted in the building of the Rutgers Athletic Center (now Jersey Mike’s Arena) in 1977, the Hale Center (the Rutgers football headquarters) in 1986 and a $28 million expansion of the football stadium in the early 1990s.
Gruninger also led Rutgers’ transition to the Big East as a football member in 1991 and an all-sports member in 1995. He was set to become the president of the National Association of College Directors of Athletics in June 1999, but had to relinquish the appointment because of his retirement.
When he stepped down as Rutgers AD in October 1997 at age 66, Gruninger told reporters his retirement had been in the works since the day he took the job.
“My letter, believe it or not, has been on the desk, or in the president’s drawer, since Feb. 1, 1973,” he said. “I handed my resignation in at that time. I serve at the pleasure of the president, have for 25 years. … There’s no contract. Now, that wouldn’t happen today in my business.”
Gruninger didn’t have a hint of scandal during his 25-year run as AD, leaving a legacy of integrity, honesty and loyalty.
“I would hope people remember I’m a competitor,” he told The Star-Ledger in October 1997. “I want Rutgers to win as much as anyone. Maybe more.”
A long-time resident of Martinsville, Gruninger moved to Whispering Pines, N.C., after his Rutgers retirement. He is survived by Barbara, his wife of 66 years, their three children -- Mark Gruninger (Nancy), Kate Gruninger Johnson (Rick) and Jack Gruninger (Wendi), and their four grandchildren Allison Gruninger Manifold (Bryce), David Gruninger, Jake Gruninger and Zach Gruninger.
Stories by Keith Sargeant
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Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com.