Greg Schiano
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Head Coach
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There was a great deal of pride in the room when Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano met with the media two days after the Scarlet Knights’ win over Cincinnati in the 2005 regular-season finale.
Schiano spoke about the excitement the Scarlet Knights felt about accepting a bid to the 2005 Insight Bowl, about finishing in the upper echelon of the final standings in the BIG EAST Conference, about posting their first winning season in 13 years, and about earning a bowl bid for the first time in 27 years.
But Schiano, now in his sixth year as head coach of the Scarlet Knights, was quick to remind everyone that the success the team achieved in the 2005 season was not the ultimate goal for the Rutgers program.
“This has been a process that has been going for a while here in the state of New Jersey, and one that I think the people well deserve. Hopefully, they’ll enjoy this, and understand that this is just a step,” said Schiano. “The goal still is what I said the first day. We came here to build a program that will win national championships.
“Along the way, there are bowl games, there are conference championships, and then there are national championships. That’s still the ultimate goal. I knew it wouldn’t happen overnight, our staff knows that and our players know that,” Schiano added. “We’re building a program – it’s not about a season. It’s about building a program, and going to that pinnacle that we talked about when we first got here. This is a step on the climb.”
A New Jersey native who returned to his roots to take over the reins of the Rutgers football program, Schiano has led the Scarlet Knights throughout his tenure with the energy, passion and boundless enthusiasm that have been the hallmarks of his career.
Schiano's impact as head coach is evidenced in all aspects of the Rutgers football program. Schiano and his staff have continued to upgrade the level of talent by recruiting student-athletes with outstanding athleticism and great character, all part of the building process that continues to result in on-field success.
Rutgers now boasts one of the nation's finest football complexes, highlighted by an expansive strength and conditioning facility, a state-of-the-art training room and academic support facilities which include classrooms, study rooms and computer labs. With a state-of-the-art scoreboard and field turf playing surface in place, Rutgers Stadium continues to be one of the most scenic settings for college football in the country.
Schiano's arrival signaled a new era at Rutgers, and he continues to guide the program at New Jersey's State University to the elite of Division I-A college football. His tireless work ethic, winning attitude and commitment to the university are pillars which generate excitement throughout the "State of Rutgers."
Schiano, who grew up in Wyckoff and graduated from Ramapo High School, took over as the 27th head coach of the nation's oldest college football program on Dec. 1, 2000. On that day, Schiano proclaimed his vision of excellence for Rutgers football. "This program will be built on a rock foundation," he said. "It will take longer than building it on stilts, but when it's built, it will be built forever. This is where I started; this is where I was striving to get back to. I'm thrilled to be here. It's time."
Under Schiano's guidance, a number of former Scarlet Knights have advanced to the NFL. Tight end L.J. Smith was the starting tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXVIIII and caught a TD pass. Gary Brackett started at middle linebacker for the Colts throughout the 2005 season and his jarring hit on Pittsburgh fullback Jerome Bettis near the Colts’ goal line forced a key fumble in the final two minutes of their divisional playoff game against the Steelers, almost leading to a comeback win. Other NFL Knights from Schiano’s reign include OL Trohn Carswell (Carolina Panthers), DT Gary Gibson (Baltimore Ravens), DB Brandon Haw (Miami Dolphins), DB Jarvis Johnson (Baltimore Ravens), WR Aaron Martin (Dallas Cowboys), DE Raheem Orr (New York Giants), DT J’Vonne Parker (Cleveland Browns) and RB Dennis Thomas (Kansas City Chiefs).
Another former standout, defensive back Nate Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, was a remarkable talent on the field and in the classroom while at Rutgers. Jones became Rutgers football's first two-time Academic All-America selection, and was a member of the prestigious National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame National Scholar Class of 2003, one of just eight Division I-A players honored. Jones was also the recipient of the BIG EAST/ A?ropostale 2003 Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, and was the BIG EAST’s Co-Special Team Player of the Year in 2002.
Schiano, who served as defensive coordinator of the Scarlet Knights in 2005, guided a unit that was tied for second in the nation in sacks, fifth in the nation in tackles for loss and tied for 12th in fumbles recovered. The 2005 defensive unit was in the top 35 in both third down and fourth down defense.
Achievement and success are nothing new to Schiano. Wherever he has been in his coaching career, success has followed.
During Schiano's two-year stint as defensive coordinator at Miami (1999-2000), the Hurricanes posted a 20-5 record, including an 11-1 record, the No. 2 national ranking and the Sugar Bowl championship in 2000. The Hurricanes boasted one of the top scoring defenses in the nation in 2000, and were the stingiest defensive squad in the BIG EAST Conference.
Under Schiano, the Miami defense showed rapid and marked improvement in his two seasons as defensive coordinator. The 'Canes defense closed out the 1999 season by not allowing a passing touchdown in 27 quarters, and was 12th nationally in scoring defense (allowing 17.2 points per game). In 2000, Miami surrendered just 15.5 points per game, the fewest allowed by any team in the BIG EAST and No. 5 nationally.
Prior to his assignment at Miami, Schiano spent three seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears (1996-98). Schiano was a defensive assistant in 1996-97, and was the defensive backfield coach in 1998. The 1997 Chicago Bears' third-down defense showed measurable improvement under Schiano's leadership, finishing first in the NFC and fourth in the NFL as opponents converted just 31.7% of their third-down attempts. In 1996, the Bears' pass defense climbed from 27th to 11th in fewest yards allowed.
Schiano was defensive backfield coach at Penn State University from 1991-95. While at Penn State, the Nittany Lions had 58 wins and made five bowl appearances in his tenure. Overall, in nine seasons as an assistant on the collegiate level, Schiano's teams advanced to eight bowl games.
Schiano's first assignment as a coach in the college ranks came during the 1989 season, when he served as a graduate assistant coach at Rutgers, following a one-year stint as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Ramapo High School. Schiano was a standout linebacker at Ramapo, playing for Coach Mike Miello, who is now head coach at William Paterson after four seasons on the Rutgers Football staff. After his initial stint at Rutgers in 1989, he moved on to
Penn State as a graduate assistant coach in 1990.
Schiano's influence reaches beyond the college playing fields, as his stable of NFL players continues to grow each season. In addition to former Scarlet Knights like Smith, Brackett and Jones, Schiano has helped guide such NFL standouts as Ed Reed (safety, Baltimore Ravens), Dan Morgan (linebacker, Carolina Panthers), Kim Herring (defensive back, Cincinnati Bengals) and Mike Rumph (cornerback, San Francisco 49ers).
Schiano is a
1988 graduate of Bucknell University where he was a three-year letterman at linebacker. He was named to The Sporting News All-America Pre-Season Team in 1987. He served as team captain his senior year and, as a junior, he topped the team with 114 tackles and was named All-Conference.
Schiano and his wife, Christy, are the proud parents of four children.