PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The facilities upgrades continue at Rutgers and today marked the dedication of the Harriet and Bob Druskin strength and conditioning center in The RAC. The weight room will be used by the men’s and women’s basketball teams in addition to a number of other RU athletic teams.
“This is a very exciting day,” RU athletic director Pat Hobbs said this evening. “Anytime as an athletic director that you get to dedicate a new room which is dedicated to our student athletes, it is a pretty special day. A year ago, we were able to dedicate the Ron and Joanna Garutti strength and conditioning room over in the Hale Center and now we are at The RAC dedicating this room.”
The center was made possible by a generous donation provided by Rutgers alum Bob Druskin and his wife Harriet.
“We don’t look at this as a gift. We look at it as an investment,” Druskin said. “We try to invest in things where we have a belief. When you believe in the people and believe in the mission, there is a reasonable chance of success. Despite the nobility of the mission, if you don’t believe in the scheme, it is just silly to put these resources and time and energy into it.”
The Rutgers men’s basketball team is already taking advantage of the facility, which is located on the second level of The RAC.
“Our players have worked out in it. It is a Big Ten facility,” men’s basketball coach Steve Pikiell said. “They have done an unbelievable job in a short period of time. Bob and Harriet’s support have been unbelievable to get this done quickly. Now, we bring the recruits right down here. Before, I would walk by it and say 'we’ll show you tomorrow.'”
The women’s basketball team is also making use of the state-of-the-art facility.
“I have never in my whole life have seen my basketball players excited to go to the weight room,” said women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer. “Part of the reason for their excitement is that it is inviting. And it is important for us to recruit at the Big Ten level.”
Photos courtesy of Ben Solomon - Rutgers Athletics
