Despite an underwhelming 7-28 record in nearly three full seasons as Rutgers’ head football coach, Chris Ash is “not on the hot seat” and is expected to return for a fourth year in 2019, according to a report by Keith Sargeant of NJ.com.

Per Sargeant, a university official close to the scene said athletic director Pat Hobbs is still confident that Ash is the man for the job:

“What did Pat (tweet) when (CBSSports.com) put (Ash) on the hot seat? ‘You can take (my guy) off your list?’ In Pat’s mind, (Ash) isn’t on the hot seat. He’s never been. He’s not now.'”

Another university official provided further affirmation:

“Unless something changes in the next five days, there’s no way Ash isn’t coming back.”

Rutgers is 1-10 (0-8 Big Ten) this season and will play its regular season finale at Michigan State (6-5, 4-4) on Saturday.

With a .200 winning percentage, Ash’s teams have been outscored by an average of 27.1 points in the 28 losses since he took over the program in 2016. The Scarlet Knights have produced a putrid 12.9 points per game against FBS competition over the last three years, including 13.8 in 2018 — second-worst in the country (out of 130 FBS schools). They’re currently 120th in the latest S&P+ rankings heading into the final week of the season.

Ash has four seasons remaining on a five-year deal that was extended after last year’s 4-8 campaign.