Cincinnati Adds David Rowe as Cornerbacks Coach: A Strong Fit for a Program on the Rise
Cincinnati football is making moves this offseason, and the latest one brings a strong defensive mind into the fold. Head coach Scott Satterfield announced the hiring of David Rowe as the Bearcats’ new cornerbacks coach on Monday - a move that brings both experience and energy to a position group that’s pivotal in today’s pass-heavy college game.
“We are excited to add David Rowe to our staff,” Satterfield said in a statement. “David is an outstanding teacher of technique, a tireless recruiter, and someone who connects extremely well with student-athletes.”
That last point - connection - is a big deal in today’s college football landscape. With the transfer portal spinning like a turnstile and NIL changing the game, coaches who can build real relationships with players are more valuable than ever. Rowe checks that box, and then some.
But it’s not just about personality. Rowe brings a solid track record of development and results.
He arrives from Rutgers, his alma mater, where he spent the last two seasons working with the Scarlet Knights’ cornerbacks. In 2024, he helped guide Bo Mascoe to Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors - a testament to Rowe’s ability to coach up talent in one of the toughest defensive conferences in the country.
The year prior, Rowe served as assistant cornerbacks coach and had a hand in developing Robert Longerbeam, who finished third nationally among 2024 players with 42 career passes defended. That’s not a typo - 42.
That includes 37 pass breakups and five interceptions. Longerbeam’s production helped him earn a sixth-round selection in the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, and Rowe’s fingerprints were all over that development.
For Rowe, this move to Cincinnati is more than just another coaching stop - it’s an opportunity to help shape a program that’s continuing to evolve in the Big 12.
“I am grateful to Coach Satterfield for this opportunity in Cincinnati,” Rowe said. “There is a great foundation here with so much potential as we cultivate our identity. I am eager to get started and see what we can do.”
Rowe’s coaching journey has taken him through a variety of programs, each stop building on the last. Before Rutgers, he spent three seasons at Houston, where he worked with both the cornerbacks and the broader secondary.
His time there was marked by some standout performances, including helping Gervarrius Owens earn top safety and top cover safety honors in the AAC from PFF in 2022. That season also saw Houston transition into the Big 12, giving Rowe firsthand experience with the challenges and pace of play in the conference Cincinnati now calls home.
The 2021 Cougars were no slouches either. That team climbed as high as No. 16 in the national rankings and made it to the AAC Championship game - where, fittingly, they fell to Cincinnati.
That defense held opponents to just a 55.2% completion rate, good for eighth-best in the country. Marcus Jones, one of Rowe’s defensive backs, took home the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player.
Rowe’s resume runs deep. Before Houston, he coached at Central Michigan (2019-20), Valdosta State (2017-18), and Rockledge High School in Florida (2015-16).
At Valdosta State, he was part of a staff that led the Blazers to an NCAA Division II national championship. He also spent time as a graduate assistant at Western Michigan in 2014 and got a taste of the NFL as a defensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013 - working under his college coach, Greg Schiano.
And speaking of his playing days, Rowe was a four-year letterwinner at Rutgers from 2008 to 2011. He played in every BIG EAST matchup against Cincinnati, registering tackles in all four games and breaking up a pair of passes. Now, he’s on the other side of that rivalry, looking to help the Bearcats lock down opposing passing attacks.
For Cincinnati, the addition of Rowe is about more than just filling a position. It’s about building a defense that can compete at the highest level of the Big 12. With Rowe’s blend of player development, recruiting chops, and conference experience, the Bearcats are adding a coach who knows what it takes to win - and how to bring out the best in his players.