Greg Schiano didn’t want to attach a timeline to the process, believing that not only would it be unnecessary, but also counterintuitive.
Rutgers football needs a defensive coordinator, a spot that opened up when Joe Harasymiak last month somewhat surprisingly accepted the head coaching job at the University of Massachusetts.
Finding his replacement would require a diligent process – one that Schiano wasn’t going to rush.
As mid-January approaches, that spot remains unfulfilled. Whether that changes any day now or weeks from now is the big question.
That being said, anyone surprised that Schiano hasn’t made a hire yet shouldn’t be. This is far too important to make a hasty decision.
As the Scarlet Knights head into Year 6 of the Schiano 2.0 era, coming off back-to-back winning seasons and the program’s best campaign in the Big Ten era, this is a decision Schiano needs to get right – especially with a defense that will be replacing major impact players.
“I never have a timeline,” Schiano said in Scottsdale, Arizona in the days ahead of Rutgers’ Rate Bowl loss to Kansas State. “I think that boxes you in. My timeline is getting the best person for Rutgers. That may be – it could’ve been the day after and it could be two months from now. We’ll figure that out as it goes. In my younger years I made that mistake, I felt like I had to do it right away. Other than this game, why would I have to do it right away? We don’t play for eight months.
“We’ll get the best guy. Certainly by spring because we want to have a plan in place by spring football.”
Spring football is still about two months away.
Losing Harasymiak was a tough blow for the coaching staff. He led a top-20 defense last season before injuries mounted this year and underperformance as a unit followed. Harasymiak rebuilt the defense during the second bye week of the season, and that helped Rutgers’ go 3-1 in its final four games to secure bowl eligibility.
Among Harasymiak’s greatest strengths was his ability to connect with his players – ask any of the Scarlet Knights’ defensive players about Harasymiak and they’d praise him for his teaching ability and the way he communicated and supported them.
Schiano frequently talked about how he felt he had the two best coordinators in the nation in Harasymiak and offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca.
At a time when college football head coaches have so many responsibilities that go beyond game planning – from NIL fundraising to roster management to recruiting – having coordinators who can be the head coaches’ eyes and ears is paramount.
Schiano said his three seasons as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator – which came after more than a decade’s worth of experience at the college and NFL levels – reminded him how difficult the job of an assistant coach can be.
But what he looks for in a coach?
That hasn’t changed.
“My philosophy has only gotten stronger that leadership is everything,” Schiano said. “So the guys who lead the offense, the guys who lead the defense, the guys who lead the special teams, I think it’s critical that you hire not only the best technical coach but the best leader. My definition of coaching is to equip and inspire. You equip with all your skills – your intelligence, your ability to teach. Now how do you inspire? Inspire to me is connection with players.”
Finding a candidate with the right combination takes time and diligence.
Working in Schiano’s favor is the resources he has at this disposal, particularly financially – Harasymiak made $1.25 million this season and his salary was scheduled to escalate to $1.5 million by 2026.
Schiano can bring a well-qualified, experienced candidate to Piscataway.
Finding the right candidate is the challenge, one that takes time.
Whenever Schiano makes a decision, whether that’s soon or still a ways away, he needs to make the right one.
“You can be the smartest guy in the world but if you can’t connect with the players, it doesn’t matter,” Schiano said. “It would be a good for a video game but it’s not going to be good with human beings. Certainly when I’m looking for a leader of the defense, it’s in all those areas, which is extensive. To fill those, it’s hard to find. There’s not that many of them out there.”
